"a salt spring gander"
TRANSCRIPT
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Cycle Therapycycle touring in holland bull isle of man bull berlin to copenhagen
bull salt spring island bull santa barbara bull changes at the crd bull
upcoming events bull new bike store bull tires bull better breathing 2013 127
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Published by theGreater Victoria Cycling CoalitionPO Box 8586 Stn CentralVictoria BC V8W 3S2 The GVCCrsquos purpose is get more peoplecycling more places more often in GreaterVictoria bybull Improving cycling education and making
it universal for cyclists motorists andothers dealing with bicycling
bull Facilitating communications betweencyclists business government and othercommunity groups
bull Improving facilities and infrastructure forbicycle use
bull Improving the legal climate for cyclistsbull Encouraging more people to ride bicycles
more oftenbull Developing a cycling information base
To contribute to Cycle Therapy please email
cycletherapygvccbccaWe reserve the right to edit copy in the inter-est of clarity or where necessary The views
expressed in Cycle Therapy are not necessari-ly those of the GVCC All articles photos andgraphics published in Cycle Therapy remainthe intellectual property of the authors andartists
Visit our website gvccbccafacebookcomGVCCbctwittercomgvcc
Editorial Collective Kate Berniaz MichaelFisher Felicity Perryman Olena Russell
Editors Kate Berniaz Olena RussellDesigner Felicity PerrymanContributors Jim Alix Kate Berniaz JanetBesler Michael Fisher Jennifer FreemanBrenda Guiled John Luton Norah Macey
Sam Macey Darren Marr Felicity PerrymanEd Pullman Olena Russell Ray StraatsmaOliver Terry Tony Webster
Distribution Brenda BoydBike Couriers Brenda Boyd Barry Edmon-son Jim Grayson Norah Macey Sam MaceyForrest Nelson John Perry
GVCC Board of DirectorsPresident Edward PullmanVice-president Felicity Perryman Treasurer Michael FisherSecretary Brenda BoydDirector Sam MaceyDirector Darren MarrDirector Olena RussellDirector Mike Russell
Director Ray Straatsma
Printed by First Choice Booksamp Victoria Bindery
The GVCC is a proud member of theBritish Columbia Cycling Coalition
Cycle Therapy Cycle Therapy welcomes submissions of ideas articles and
photography Deadline for next issue October 15 2013 Volunteers
interested in experience working on a growing magazine are welcome
Reach cyclists and support cycling advocacy with an ad in Cycle Therapy
Very reasonable rates Contact us at cycletherapygvccbcca
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Ride Donrsquot HideOn Sunday June 23rd over 120 cyclists took
part in the inauguralRide Donrsquot Hide eventin Victoria The ridestarted in 2011 whenMichael Schatter cy-cled 40000 km aroundthe world to raiseawareness of mentalhealth and its importance Sincethen other communities have
joined in and 2013 marked thefirst time in Victoria
Volunteers from across Vic-toria including many from theGVCC helped ensure that the
ride was a success and mediacoverage was extensive andpositive Riders enjoyed a sce-nic ride along Dallas Road fromOgden Pier where the event wasco-located with MECrsquos BikeF-est Inspiring speakers includedlocal author Michelle Mulderand Adam Kreek Olympic row-er GVCC Treasurer MichaelFisher was volunteer coordina-tor to support his daughter whois bi-polar
The statistics on mentalhealth issues are staggering
as it is expected tha15 of women wil
require mental healthassistance duringtheir life and the statistics for men aresimilar although menare frequently reluctant to seek help Theride was run in 12 oth-
er communities in BC to raisemoney and more importantlyawareness about mental healthissues in Canada It is expected to be an annual event withgrowing participation Thiyearrsquos event in Vancouver in
volved more than 1000 cyclistsThe GVCC helped supporthe event through the tireleswork of volunteers Cycling is awonderful way to enjoy exercisein your daily life and this mayreduce the impact of mentahealth issues but do make useof medical psychiatric and psychological support
byMICHAEL FISHER
Canadian Menta
Health Association
victoriacmhabcca
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETING
will take place
WED OCT16 TH 2013 AT 7 PM
Selkirk Montessori School2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Guest Speaker
ERIN OrsquoMELINNExecutive Director of HUBformerly the Vancouver AreaCycling Coalition
Presentation
BIKE FRIENDLY BUSINESSPROGRAM
Board of Directors
ELECTIONS
TO VOTE You must be a member in good standingprior to September 16th 2013
4 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
NEW NAME SAME LOCATION
1419 BROAD STREET VICTORIA BCCOME SEE WHAT WERE UP TO
copy Ride Donrsquot Hide
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The Greater Victoria Cycling Coalitionand its nearly 400 members believe inour vision of getting more people cyclingmore places more often As yoursquoll see fromthe list below wersquove been busy lately
A ttended the Township of Esquimaltrsquos
recent Open House on the proposed
changes to Admirals Road to make it
more pedestrian and cycle friendly and pressed
our points about the kinds of bike lanes that
should be installed
A ttended the District of Saanichrsquos open-house on changes to Cook Street and theShelbourne Valley Action Plan Mobility
Focus Group to deliver our position on how bestto make these streets more cycle friendly Thanksto Duncan McLelland for his work
Met with City of Victoria staff to discuss
a number of cycling infrastructure is-
sues including BC Transitrsquos proposals
for bus priority lanes on Douglas Street and
potential adverse effects these could have for
cyclists trafc calming measures installed in
Beacon Hill Park changes to Vancouver Street
new bike lanes on JohnsonBegbiePandora
Streets and cycling infrastructure for the new
Johnston Street Bridge
Talked with CRD Parks planning regarding
xing andor replacing the wooden bridge
decks on the trestles on the Galloping
Goose and Lochside trails
Continue to liaise and support the Oak Bay
Active Transportation Committee in their
efforts to help make that municipality
more bike- and pedestrian-friendly
A nother season of Theme Rides So far
we have held the Rites of Spring Ride
the Scenic Murals Tour and the ldquoMagicalrdquo
Historical Ride
Organized free Recreational Rides almostevery weekend and have recently be-
gun to hold two types of rides - rides
for those wanting to ride at a moderate to fast
pace and rides for those wanting to Smell
the Roses Recent rides have included rides to
Schwartz Bay featuring lunch at the Stonehouse
Pub and an overnight camping trip to the Sooke
Potholes Thanks to Simon Wigzell the principal
organizer of most of these rides
W ere awarded a $10000 Sustainability
Grant by the City of Victoria and will
soon be seeking a contractor to help
us develop a ldquoBikes Mean Businessrdquo program
W e had our booth at 11 locations duringBike To Work Week Thanks to all those
who volunteered including Brenda
Boyd Ryan Mijker Ray Straatsma Forrest Nelson
Janet Besler Michael Fisher Jim Alix Ed Pullman
Olena and Mike Russell
W orked with City of Victoria Emergency
Management to organize a 1-day lsquoTour
de Disasterrsquo held on July 27th Forty
people took part in a 25 km rally that wiggled its
way around the city of Victoria
Congratulations to Bill Lane (rst place) Joanne
Thompson (second place) and Bike Sense
Editor Sara Stallard (third place) And a specialthanks to event organizer Rob Johns of Victoria
Emergency Management Agency
Purchased a Norco Birota cargo bike to re
place the GVCC Whale a large trailer The
new trike is pictured above with GVCC
President Ed Pullman and Director Ryan Mijke
and son Ilya who completed the Tour de
Disaster with it
Continue to manage 32 bike lockers at three
BC Transit hub locations (thanks to ou
new Bike Locker coordinator Ron Fownes)
The bike lockers are only $10 a month and are a
great way to securely store your bike and then
board a bus at a bus exchange gvccbccastore
Many GVCC members helped the CRD
conduct bike counts in May and July
These are helpful in determining where
to target improvements in cycling infrastructure
in the Greater Victoria area Much thanks to those
participants who donated their honorariums to
the GVCC
What Have We Done For You Latelycompiled by Sam Macey
Riders on the Architecturaltour admire the Belfry
Theatre in Fernwood Sq
Photo by S Macey
Victoria City councillor
Ben Isitt and GVCC
president Ed Pullman
shake hands on having
completed the tour
Photos this page by
FPerryman or as noted
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 5
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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I canrsquot think of a better place in this country to live or travel
to for some amazing tourism by bicycle than here
on Vancouver Island The crisp sea breeze the
plethora of destinations the beautiful trails and
quiet back roads all make for an ideal touring
experience As someone whorsquos done a bit of
exploring of the surrounding area by bicycle
I wanted to offer you the reader some tips
destinations and web resources to check out to
hopefully get you going on your rst bike trip
G V C C
P r e s
i d e n t rsquo s
M e s s a ge
Welcome to Travel on Two Wheels
Cycle Therapy
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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First and foremost anyone can do cycle touring All you
need is a bicycle a sturdy luggage rack a pair of pan-
niers and a bungee cord to strap items to the back of
your bike Most people I talk to who have not done
cycle touring marvel at what great shape I must be in to
be able to cycle 100 kms in a day at which point I laugh
and inform them that cycling to work and the odd trip
to the Y are about all the exercise I usually get You donrsquotneed a great bike or to be in great shape to do cycle
touring Just give yourself plenty of time to get where
you are going
For my friends looking to take their rst cycling trip I
always recommend taking the Galloping Goose out to
the Sooke Potholes Campground for a night or two Itrsquos
only 50 km away on a very easy trail Therersquos lots to ex-
plore at the potholes including Leechtown the ghost
town about 7 km north of the Potholes where the Gal -
loping Goose Trail ends Just donrsquot forget to bring an
extra inner tube or two a pump and some tire leversin case you get a at along the rocky trail
For a more challenging trip hop the Mill Bay Ferry
and head up to Lake Cowichan via back roads or take
the Trans Canada Trail up from Shawnigan Lake (and
marvel at the beauty of Kinsol Trestle on your way
there) Alternatively take the Coho over to Port Ange-
les and head over to Port Townsend Be sure to take
the Olympic Discovery Trail between Port Angeles
and Sequim before getting on Highway 101 Take the
ferry to Whidbey Island and up to Anacortes (and over
the stunning Deception Pass) before catching the ferr y
back to SidneyGo to cyclevancouverislandca to check out lots of
things to do and places to visit on bike here on Vancou-
ver Island Finally check out warmshowersorg Itrsquos a free
worldwide hospitality exchange for cyclists Sign up to
get access to thousands of billet listings and offer your
own home up for touring cyclists
If you have some cycle touring stories from in and
around Greater Victoria and the surrounding area
send them to me at presidentgvccbcca and I will
post them on our website for others to check out and
either replicate your awesome experience or hopeful-ly avoid some of the pitfalls you may have encoun-
tered on your two-wheel journey
EDWARD PULLMAN is the GVCCpresident and avid cycle tourist
Downtown Victoria BC seen from Songhees point at
sunset on an August evening Photo by Felicity Perryman
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 7
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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A Salt Spring Island Gander
W
hatrsquos good for the Goose ndash ie cycling the Gallop-ing Goose Trail ndash has got to be good for the Gan-der ndash meaning spinning over the Salt Spring Islandsection of the emerging Salish Sea Regional Trail
Network The Salish Sea Regional Trail Network will ultimate-ly connect the Galloping Goose Lochside Trails Trans-Can-ada Trail Humpback and Cowichan Valley Regional TrailWhether yoursquore an experienced cyclist or newly venturing outSalt Springrsquos bound to be a memorable trip Itrsquos got it all Here
is a primer for your Salt SpringGander so you come prepared
Salt Spring Island has alwaysbeen a great place to visit wheth-er for a day trip to the FarmerrsquosMarket or for a weekend at a lo-cal Bed and Breakfast A groupof committed residents Island
Pathways is working to makethe Island more accessible forcyclists both locals and tourists
Yoursquoll most likely come by ferry Your little sea cruise willcost $200 extra the price of walking on with your bicycle If youhave a BC Ferries Experience card the fee is waived The solebenefit of this purchase is the privilege of parking your bicycleby a bow or stern rail Bicycles strapped to the back of vehiclestaking up deck space go for free Go figure
Chances are good yoursquoll meet a few cyclists on board Cyclingtraffic on Salt Spring sailings has increased approximately 12each of the last five years while motor traffic has declined overthe same period Cheers for you yoursquore pushing the wave Cha
up fellow pedallers find out if theyrsquore seasoned Salt Spring Is-land riders or intrepid newbies The formerwill tell you things worth knowing aboutcycling on island the latter may appreciatehearing some tips yoursquove picked up here
Wander the boat to find a big framedversion of Island Pathways award-win-ning ldquoHeritage Map with Bike RoutesrdquoItrsquos also posted by Rock Salt Restaurantat Fulford and by the Visitorsrsquo Centrein Ganges This map is a must-seefor its touring historic natural his-tory and geologic information For
those who want to read and learnfrom it itrsquos a must-have memen-to You can buy it for $850 atmany island stores or you canorder it from wwwisland-pathwaysca
From this map and theTrails BC map (trailsbccavancouver-island
by Brenda Guiled
Bike shop in Fulford Harbour by P Medved View of the Fulford Valley from Mount Maxwell by ProudlyDonut
Morningside Organic Cafe in Fulford Harbour by Nen222Saltspring fishing boat by NRTphotos
After walking your bike off the
ferry set yourinner clock to
island time
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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loops-journeyscowichan-salt-spring-180-km)you can plan your routes If yoursquore on the SwartzBay-Fulford Harbour ferry look for Salt SpringldquoShare the Roadrdquo brochures ndash another Island Path-ways initiative Keep one on hand for safety and con-tact information
Salt Springrsquos new Cycling Master Plan calls for a
bikeway along the main spine roads connecting thethree ferry terminals through the Ganges hub butthese are fast busy highways For quieter safer ridesyoursquod best take the peaceful back roads shown on theTrails BC map
After walking your bike off the ferry set your in-ner clock to island time ie donrsquot rush Wait until
the cars and trucks have cleared the boatand roared up the road Yoursquoll
see why you needthose stay-put min-utes when you hitthe pavementhellip be-
cause a lot of pave-ment is lacking on the
shouldersSalt Spring roads
are narrow windingand hilly plus most are in
rough shape from decadeswithout capital upgrades
Yoursquore definitely in the coun-try and on quiet stretches cy-
cling can be bucolic and restful comparedto staying wired for urban hazards
While you wonrsquot likely get doored onSalt Spring even in town on the busiesdays there are challenges aplenty tokeep you alert This includes sharingthe limited road space with drivers
fellow cyclists and deer The dangersand idiocies arenrsquot terribly commonbut they give something for locals
to gripe about Please be appropriately cau-tious and considerate without fail to maximize the safe-
ty and pleasure of your trip and leave a good vibe behind whenyoursquore gone
For amenities and things to do consult Island Pathways mapdo a web search including local media the Gulf Islands Drift-wood and Community Exchange pick up brochures aboard theferries ask around as you sail and when on island and stop at theVisitorsrsquo Centre in Ganges
While cycling on island yoursquoll encounter farm stands studios
to visit hiking possibilities and if yoursquore tuned and ready forthem serendipitous connections bound to make your trip espe-cially charmed in a very Salt Spring way
BRENDA GUILED is chair of Island Pathways a Salt SpringIsland non-profit thatrsquos been working to improve non
motorized transportation on Salt Spring Island for 25 yearsshe spearheads Island Pathways Bicycle Working Group
On the dock at Fulford by H Marsh Saturday farmers market in Ganges by SmallestBones
Ganges harbour by RJ RuppenthalBike shop in Ganges by ReshElectrons
S a l i s h S e
a T r a i l
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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dominate the narrow streets Trucks are permitted only be-
fore 10 am to re-supply the shops but there were parking lotsand bike racks nearby for cars and bikes It took a bit of time to
get accustomed to cycling along with the thousands of othercyclists on the roads and it became even more important to
carefully watch for other cyclists along with pedestrians andmotorized traff ic
There is a lot of new housing being constructed outside
of Utrecht and Oss The Dutch suburbs we saw all had great
cycling amenities We rode on many paved bike paths sepa-rate but alongside the roads for cars and trucks On many ofthe narrow farm roads there are marked
bike lanes on both sides of the road leav-ing only enough space for one car to drivebetween
In Doesburg about 60 km east of Osswe saw hundreds of bikes locked to the bike
racks near the train stations There werealso bike lockers at the stations and they
appeared fully occupied from morning toevening The likely reason Many Dutchpeople have two bikes ndash one to ride from
their residence to the train station and an-other at the other end to ride from there to
their work siteWhile there are lots of bikes and lots of
cycling infrastructure along with commut-er rail and bus services in Holland like
BC most families seem to own a car alongwith one or more bikes and virtually allthe goods available in stores arrive there
by truck Holland has a pretty efficienthighway system but also has traffic jams
(we noticed the equivalent to our ColwoodCrawl in some cities) We also took note o
the consideration paid to cyclists by Dutchtransportation planners A special high-way overpass was constructed for cyclists
to pass over a section of freeway that wasbeing reconstructed near Oss ndash we havenrsquot
noticed that much consideration in BC
Cyclingin Holland
Our first impressions of Hollandwere not of bicycles but of the
modern efficient freeway systemfor cars and trucks But when we arrived
in Gouda bicycles were everywhere andfor good reason Holland is ldquoflat as a Dutchpannekoekrdquo so itrsquos easy to bike and old cit-
ies like Gouda have very narrow roads andlimited places for cars to drive and park
(residents require parking permits for theircars though most seem to own a car) We
saw cyclists of all ages ndash children business-
men and seniors riding Dutch-style bikes ndash high handlebars long wheelbase fullfenders enclosed chains built-in head- andtaillights and rear wheel locks and usually
equipped with huge panniersBike helmets are not mandatory in Hol-
land and only the Dutch sport bicycle rid-ers seem to favour wearing them Small
gas-powered motor scooters are also per-mitted on bike paths In Utrecht (3rd larg-est Dutch city) and Oss a smaller town
the downtowns are quite old so pedestrians
B i k e s i n H o l l a n d b y S h i r a t
s k i
b y N o r a h M
a c e y
Dutch farm roads near Oss Note the 2 bikelanes leaving room for only 1 car
Cyclists of all ages in Oss ndashnote they donrsquot ride single file
The bike in the foreground features an electric
motor on the front wheel ndash the battery is in the
chain guard and easily removed for overnight
charging The bike in the background is
specially made for the Dutch Post Office ndash single
speed but capable of carrying 40 kg of mail
10 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Cycling on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man is about the size of Saltspring Island but with a much
bigger population (86000) Besides tourism and agriculture thecountry is a tax haven and
most international banksinsurance companies and in-
vestment houses have offices
there Each year for over 100years the Isle of Man Tourist
Trophy or TT motorcycleraces have attracted spec-
tators Run on public roadsthey are very dangerous rac-
es We stayed 8km outsideof Douglas the main cityon the Isle and thought that
renting bicycles would be agreat way to get around during race week But after enjoying such easy
pedaling in Holland cycling on the Isle of Man was no joy and made usmore appreciative of the cycling infrastructure and amenities we have
in Greater VictoriaThere are plenty of cyclists on the Isle of Man such as Mark Cav-
endish the ldquoManx Missilerdquo and winner of 5 stages of this yearrsquos Giro
drsquoItalia The Isle also has lots of public trails that mountain bikers enjoyBut for commuter and recreational cycling other than a paved bike path
along the Promenade tourist area in Douglas there is nothing The roadsare narrow most have no sidewalks and many have hedges on both sides
so it can be unnerving to be pedaling or even walking on them Thereare plenty of hills as we found
when getting to and from ourhotel and of course we hadto adjust to riding on the left
and mounted our strap-onmirrors on our right handle-
bars We found that motoristswere generally courteous to
cyclists on Isle of ManOverall our travels to
Holland and Isle of Man made us appreciate how much better Greater
Victoriarsquos cycling amenities and infrastructure could be (like in Holland)and appreciate that what we have is far better than that in some other
countries like Isle of Man
NORAH MACEY is a GVCC member and part of the ThemeRides organizing committee Photos by Sam Macey
Biking in Europe
My life will never be the same For I havetasted the joy of bike lanes that donrsquot endcycling infrastructure everywhere and
traffic that patiently yields to bikes Yes itrsquos Co-penhagen MY element Getting to Copenhagenwas an adventure so I should start from the be-
ginningNine of us signed up for a 12 day ride from Ber-lin to Copenhagen during June 2013 ldquoRadwegrdquotook us over 700 kms through East Germanyto Denmark Germany has excellent bike pathsranging from hard packed gravel to concretetracks to pavement A few kms were on secondaryroads We rode with the birds through managedforests and on concrete tracks through farmersfields We also rode beside the sea canals andlakes Fragrance of linden trees wild roses andmock orange greeted us often
The ride was challenging with rolling hills andaverage distances of 60+ km Of course we had oneday of fierce head winds with rolling hills and adistance of 60 km to test our endurance
When the path took us to Denmark we cameacross more roads than in Germany But within30 km of Copenhagen those incredible bike lanesbegin Bike lanes are on every street and manyare raised about 6 inches from other lanes Bikeshave their own traffic lights of course In the coreof the city at major intersections bright blue lanesalert vehicles to yield to bikes And they do Mo-torists stop before turning right looking right forbikes Naturally bikes are allowed on subways andtrains and there are ramps to accommodate rath-
er than stairs Truly a cyclists dream Berlin wassimilarly bike friendly although with less desig-nated bike lanes
Anyone who likes to ride bike really ought totry cycling in Copenhagen Or broaden your ex-perience and ride from Berlin
JANET BESLER is a 10-year member of the GVCC andcurrently works with the themed rides committeeNewly retired she has the luxury of cycling more
B i k e s i n B e r l i n v i a F l i c k r c r e at i v e c o m m o n s
The cycle routefrom Berlin toCopenhagen
Marine Drive near Douglas is one of thebetter places to cycle on the Isle as carsare restricted
Racks full of bikes outside Oss train stationin Holland
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 1
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1224
Itrsquos not just the traditional bike vacation orthe stereotype of a grubby loner cheapingout with a tent and a forestry campsite
but weekend riders with expensive bikes anda credit card looking for good food gooddrink and the mileage to earn the calories
Ten years ago I took a trip to the Seattle
Bike Show to promote Vancouver Island as acycling destination It was part of an initiativeenvisioned by Brian Hobson operations man-ager at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel who wasand still is years ahead of the curve
A thousand people flowed through thebooth I had with my marketing friend GeorgeAllen a fellow racer from the early days of thebike boom in the lsquo70s We designed a surveyand found what Brian had already discovered ndash bike holidays involved nice hotels cozy Band Brsquos and a more generous budget thanmost in the tourist industry assumed though
more are gaining that understandingIn the intervening years we produced a
couple of maps and struggling to find theformula to get it back into print itrsquos an ideathat has never gone away but seems like anidea whose time has really come
Event tourism is getting bigger withldquoGran Fondordquo events popping up in com-munities near and far ndash a couple in Victoriawhere hundreds or thousands for riders take
Cycling While that may
metaphor itrsquos
idays are in Y
trend across N
world Here to
Island or a shor
or the America
the steady stre
routes and trails
tracted by the
Victoria and S
the circle bette
La Route Verte Quebec by S Olmsted
Arbutus CoveGuest House
Te perfect overnightbike getaway from Victoria
and surrounding communities
Arbutus Cove is a beautiful waterfront bou-tique guest house located on the GallopingGoose trail 37 kilometers from Victoria onthe Sooke Basin a 3 hour ride
3 private deluxe rooms each with theirown entrances queen beds and full bath-rooms share a huge waterfront deck withhot tub await the cycling visitor
A 15 minute walk takes you to the 17 Mile
Pub for supper and a breakfast is servedbefore your departure
June 15 - Sept 14 $150 ( for 2)Sept 15 - June 14 $125 (for 2)
Reservations
wwwarbutuscoveguesthousecom
London England has aggressively increased cycling rates by
adding bike lanes cycle hire stations and recently committing to a $15 billion
10-year plan to create a complete cycling network in the city The mayor and
his team aim to ldquode-Lycra-fyrdquo cycling and get ldquonormal peoplerdquo on bikes as part
of every day life and the cityrsquos fabric ~The Guardian
Photos London bikeshare bikes ready for hire Shoreditch in use in Soho a
popular sticker commuters headed home and the view from a double deckerof bikes mixing with vehicle traffic in south London June 2013 by F Perryman 98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313712 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1324
e new golfng a little tired as a
e mark Active hol-
nd examples of a
rica and around the
oria and across the
y on the Gulf Islands
ans not to mention
yclists crowding the
ympic Peninsula at-
y of loop tours with
Most everyone likes
out and back ride)
Slickrock Trail Moab Utah by Trailsource
to the roads for day long loops of every roadthey can get local governments to carve offfor them The races out there are part of thatmarket too ndash they bring riders into a com-munity to fill up hotels and order dessertsat every turn They donrsquot just come to enjoythe ride they bring their 5000 calorie a day
appetites with them Do the mathVermontrsquos cycle tourism industry is big-
ger than maple syrup Nobody heard of Moabuntil mountain bikers made it a destinationVelo Quebec has created a powerhouse in-dustry around La Route Verte and createdthousands of jobs along with it The Okana-gan was in a panic when fire destroyed tres-tles along the Kettle Valley rail trail ndash Chamber of Commerce spokes-persons told anybody in themedia who would listen thatthe disaster could cost them
$5 million a year in lossesBack here in Victoria
we who see the world frombehind the handlebars haveknown for a long time whatan asset we have in our trailsnot just the roads and routesof the city and countryside Morethan a couple of million trips a year arerecorded on the Goose and Lochside Many
are of course local commuters but tens of thou-sands will be our visitor market or another sliceof the travel industry the local day traveler Thebakery in Sidney doesnrsquot care if the visitor isfrom Victoria or Virginia They just know thatsomeone on a bike discovered them on a bike
More are on the way The new EampN trail is
disjointed and incomplete but find your way oualong the corridor and you will see commutersand neighbourhood residents have already dis-covered what it has to offer The cycling touristswonrsquot be far behind if they arenrsquot there already
Before the Goose was done I was out explor-ing the emerging trail ndash no pavement no bridg-es no signs but the name had found its way to
New Zealand and some Kiwi on a bike wasstruggling up and down the slopes at
Wilkinson Rd where there is a trestlenow He wasnrsquot the first And moreclearly he was the very thin edge of
the wedge ndash a tsunami of riders iswashing up on our shores and wewould do well to make them feewelcome
JOHN LUTON is Executive Directorof Capital Bike and Walk which provides
consulting services on infrastructureand services for cycling and walking and
coordinates the Vancouver Island Cycle TourismAlliance to promote the Island as a cycling
destination He is a former president of the GVCC
a tsunamiof riders is
washing up onour shores
by JohnLuton
Kettle Valley BC by Spatialmongrel
theybring their
5000 caloriea day appetites with them Do
the math
Andalucia Spain The cities of southern Spain including Seville CordobaMalaga and Granada have taken their rate of cycling from nearly zero to more than double
that of Victoriarsquos Seville in 2006-7 added 120km of separated bike lanes and went from
5000 riders a day to over 72000 for a bike share of 7 ldquoSeville is now a cleaner
greener placeThe cycle lanes make it much easier to feel securerdquo
~ J Sanchez Seville
Photos L to R Sevici Bike share
in Seville (photo flickrcom)
separated bike lanes in Malaga
bike share outside Cordoba
train station tourism by bike -
Roman ruins in Malaga and a
local citizen in Malaga riding
its smooth flat routesPhotos
by F Perryman June 2013Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 13983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
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W e in Victoria like to pride our-selves as a cycling destinationcity Indeed many visitors come
to Victoria to sample our cycle-friendli-ness Assets such as the Galloping Gooseand Lochside Trails a mild climate to cy-cle year-round our relative compactnessand our healthy active and sustainablelifestyle have all contributed to a vibrantcycling culture which many visitors haveadmired
Although I am bless-ed to live in a community
where it is fashionable tobike to the store the showor a coffee date as well aswork I have often won-dered if there are similarcities to ours where cy-cling is the thing to doand where people visit for the riding orculture
While reviewing a recent League ofAmerican Bicyclists commuter modeshare report (2010) 2 cities caught myattention Davis California with a 22mode share and Santa Barbara California
with 64 (For the record Greater Victo-ria is 59 the highest in Canada) SinceDavis is known historically as a cyclingcity and Santa Barbara is a popular train-ing ground for cycle racers I decided toexplore these cities for myself last May
Santa Barbara was my first stop Ar-riving by train from Los Angeles I no-ticed at least a dozen bikes passing the
station in my first 15 minuteshere Within hours of my
arrival I had a rental bike from SantaBarbara Bikes-to-Go all set up and wasgiven a tour of the city by Ralph Fer-tig a member of the SantaBarbara Bicycle Coalition(SBBC) While touring thecity I noticed that there is auniform look to many of thebuildings here all designed
in the Spanish adobe styleand fairly low rise (not ex-ceeding 6 stories)
Santa Barbara has some well-devel-oped bicycle facilities The best knownand most popular pathway is the Cabril-lo Boulevard bike path paralleling thebeachfront yielding tremendous viewsOn weekends this path can get busy withwalkers joggers in-line skaters and ofcourse cyclists Most cyclists are thoseon cruiser bikes enjoying a leisurely ride
Santa Barbara Countyhas 206 miles of bike lanes
and designated bike routesWhile some of these routesare well designed and con-venient other streets disap-pointingly have bike laneswhich permit cars to beparked in them during busi-
ness hours Other bike lanes are narrowlydesigned like those on State Street themain thoroughfare
Bike parking can also be an issuewhen parking downtown Most facilitiestend to accommodate cable lock parkingover u-lock parking as it may be more
convenient to carry these type of locksaround Unfortunately cable locks havetheir security shortcomings In additionmany public buildings down-town have the ldquowheel benderrdquokind of rack which not onlyprovides little protection fromtheft but could damage a bicy-clersquos wheels if knocked over For-tunately for commuters SantaBarbara has a Bikestation where
members can access secure bike parking247 as well as access repair facilitiesduring business hours
If there is hope for cy-cling facilities developmenin the future it can befound at the University oCalifornia Santa Barbarain suburban Goleta Sim
ilar to the University inVictoria in enrolment size(22000 students) the cam
pus looks very similar in layout to UVicminus the ring road Touring with UCSBPlanning Officer Steve Conner the cam-pus has rows and rows of bike parkingfor students many specifically designedto accommodate U-locks Bike paths areseparated from pedestrian traff ic and of-ten have roundabouts for traffic calmingAs the campus is 8 miles from Santa Bar-bara many of UCSBrsquos innovations havenot had any influence on Santa Barbararsquos
facilities development though this mayhopefully change with continued advoca-cy efforts from the SBBC
The main attractions for bicyclingvisitors to Santa Barbara are the bikepathways and scenic routes leading ouof town and into places such as Goletaand the Santa Ynez valley Pathways suchas the Coast Route and the Maria Ignacio Creek Route offer a safe and leisure-ly ride to Goleta Beach and the UCSBcampus The roads leading to Solvangand the Santa Ynez valley attract seriousroad riders as well as those who wish to
explore the vineyards of thatarea or view the
A TALE OFTWO CITIES
SANTA BARBARA
amp DAVIS CALIFORNIA
byDarrenMarr
PART 1 ndashSANTA BARBARA
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scenes from the movie Sideways Ofcourse most visitors to the city renta bike or use a loaner from their hoteland ride along the Cabrillo Boulevardbike path
As for in-town attractions MissionSanta Barbara is a must if you are in-terested in the colonial history of thearea and the role of Catholic mission-aries in the development of California
society The Santa Barbara NaturalHistory Museum less than 1 km near-by has excellent exhibits on the landand marine wildlife plus indigenoussettlement of the area Though thereare bike friendly streets leading up tothe area be cautioned that the roadsleading there are hilly
Closer to downtown notable placesof interest include the Courthouse withits muraled courtrooms and bell tower
and the SantaBarbara Mu-seum of Art
both on StateStreet Closerto the beach-front you canfind the San-
ta Barbara Zoo Stearns Wharf withits shops and restaurants and ChasePalm Park with its turn of the centurycarousel If you are fortunate to be intown Tuesdays or Saturdays the San-ta Barbara Farmers Market has someof the finest organic produce fromaround Southern California
Overall Santa Barbara is a very
bikeable city with the Mediterraneanclimate and the compactness of the citycontributing to a vibrant cycling envi-ronment Thousands of people crowdedCabrillo Boulevard in mid-May to watchracers in the Amgen Tour De Californiapass through their community perhapsseeing a future Tour De France cham-pion in the making During the cityrsquosannual CycleMAYnia festival themedrides educational workshops and a bi-cycle fashion show dot the May calen-dar And with the cityrsquos bent on sustain-ability one is bound to find scores of
bicycles at the farmers marketsand at Earth Day celebrations
Makes you wonder if thecity had a few more mod-ern bicycle facilities justhow much more of a bi-cycle friendly communitySanta Barbara could po-tentially be
IF YOU GO
Please refer toRalph Fertigrsquosbicycle tour-ism websitebike-santabar-baraorg for in-formation ontours maps bi-cycle-friendly ac-commodation and bike rentals and shopsI found it to be an excellent resource on allthings cycling in Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalitionis located at 506 E Haley Street andhouses Bici Centro the non-profit bicy-cle repair and restoration shop operatedby the SBBC Programs run from theshop help support youth empowermentand cycling education outreach Web-site bicicentroorg
Did you know there is a GVCC inSanta Barbara The Goleta Valley Cy-cling Club (GVCC) holds recreationalrides around the Santa Barbara area 3times a week Check out their websitegoletabikeorg
Go by train Amtrakrsquos Pacific Sur-fliner route arrives from Los Angeles 5times daily There are bike racks on thetrain but they must be reserved in ad-vance You can also save 20 off yourfare by booking in advance Check outsantabarbaracarfreeorg
Thanks to Ralph Steve Kent Ep-person of Traffic Solutions and EdFrance SBBC Executive Director for
filling me in on the cycling advocacyscene in Santa Barbara
Next issue Part II DavisCalifornia
DARREN MARR is a past presidentof the GVCC and likes to explore
different cities by bike
Photos by D Marr
768 Yates Street Victoria downstairs from Lylersquos Pla
Cenote Restaurant and Loun
CyclistfriendlyGVCCmembersget 10off food
Just off the Goose thSelk Trest
Selkirk Station106-80 Regatta Landing l 250-383-1466
wwwselkirkstationcom
Sales - Service - Rentals - Tours
Elite Electric Bikes
Courtesy Bikes
wwwvictoriavelotechca
2002 Fernwood Road
Victoria BC V8T 2Y9
2509205520
infovictoriavelotechca
Vi
c
t
o
r
i
a
Ve
l
o
te
c
hPRO-SHOP
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 15
386-BIKE (24
1725 Quadra Street Victoria BC V8W 2Lwwwnorthparkbikeshopcom
Sales amp Repairs
10 OFFfor GVCC memb
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1624
W ork continues on constructing the EampN Rail Trail
along the EampN rail line from Victoria to LangfordThe trail is planned to eventually join with the future
Trans Canada Trail running north up Vancouver Island So faronly a few sections are officially open Given that trail construc-tion began in 2010 and is projected to take sev-eral more years to be fully completed now is agood time to consider the challenges in build-ing the Rail Trail
In January 2013 Scansa Construction wasawarded a $196 million contract by CRD for thesections between Colville and Admirals Roadand Maplebank Road (just east of the SongheesNation reserve) and between Hallowell Road
and Craigflower Road by the Four Mile Pub(just northwest of the Songhees reserve)Building the trail is much more than sim-
ply bulldozing trees and brush out of the wayand laying down a layer of asphalt Thereneeds to be a solid roadbed underneath the asphalt in order tohave a smooth level surface that is stable There also needs tobe a drainage system so that rain and surface water will not
wash out the trailIn some places there were large rock outcroppings
that needed to be removed by blasting Howeverthere are houses very close to ndash and in some
cases built on ndash these rock outcroppings so
the blasting had to be carefully controlled to prevent damage to
nearby buildings As well the trail needs to be relatively flatand this has meant bringing in crushed rock in some places tofill in the dips and gullies
In addition to constructing the trail Southern Vancouver Island Rail is installing signals at level rail crossings along the rail line including Intervale andHutchinson Roads in Esquimalt
These sections of the EampN Rail Trail on eitherside of the Songhees Nation reserve are expected tobe open this fall And while these may be helpful tosome bike commuters particularly those headingtoward CFB Esquimalt and the expanding Seaspanshipyards next door to CFB Esquimalt more work
remains to be doneThe short section between Wilson Street andEsquimalt Road in Vic West is still to be tackledalong with constructing a safe crossing for raitrail users at Esquimalt Road near Robert Street
Constructing the trail from the Old Island Highway to wesof Helmcken Road has not yet been scheduled Two bridges paralleling railway trestles (at the Old Island Highway
near the 4 Mile Pub and Helmcken Road in View Royal) wereconstructed to allow for the trail last year Construction of thelatter section of the rail trail would provide a level route towardthe West Shore Until this section of the trail is constructed cyclists wanting to use the new section of the trail that should open
EampN Rail ConstructionUpdate by Sam Macey
EampN Rail Trailsections shouldprovide manycommuters a
choice to use their
bikes rather thantheir cars
16 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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this summer will be faced with going up and over 4 Mile Hill
The Trail bypasses the Songhees Nation Reserve near Esqui-malt so cyclists will travel alongside Admirals Road betweenHallowell and Maplebank Roads to rejoin the Rail Trail This isa rather hilly detour from the level rail line
The Admirals RoadColville intersection was upgraded sev-eral years ago but little thought was given to adequately provid-ing for pedestrian and bike crossings
While lots of work remains to be done to fully complete theEampN Trail from east to west completion of these new sections
will be a change for the better Given all the residential develop
ment taking place on the Westshore these EampN Rail Trail sections should provide many commuters a choice to use their bikerather than their cars and thus avoid being stuck in the growingtraffic congestion that now sees both Old Island Highway andTrans Canada Highway traffic at a near standstill during morning and afternoon commutes
SAM MACEY is a GVCC Director anTheme Rides Committee leader
All photos by Sam Macey
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Cyclists and pedestrians crossing Admirals
Road at Colville will be a problem
2 Early work on the trail near Four Mile Hill
and Craigflower showing one of the drainage
problems
3 Rail Crossing control box by Hutchinson road
4 New drainage by trail
5 Removal of rock outcroppings
6 New paving new Hallowell The final result The
new trail has been built up and leveled proper
drainage lines were installed beneath the trail
surface
7 Mural on the navy drydock
8 New rock wall
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
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Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 2
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2424
Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Published by theGreater Victoria Cycling CoalitionPO Box 8586 Stn CentralVictoria BC V8W 3S2 The GVCCrsquos purpose is get more peoplecycling more places more often in GreaterVictoria bybull Improving cycling education and making
it universal for cyclists motorists andothers dealing with bicycling
bull Facilitating communications betweencyclists business government and othercommunity groups
bull Improving facilities and infrastructure forbicycle use
bull Improving the legal climate for cyclistsbull Encouraging more people to ride bicycles
more oftenbull Developing a cycling information base
To contribute to Cycle Therapy please email
cycletherapygvccbccaWe reserve the right to edit copy in the inter-est of clarity or where necessary The views
expressed in Cycle Therapy are not necessari-ly those of the GVCC All articles photos andgraphics published in Cycle Therapy remainthe intellectual property of the authors andartists
Visit our website gvccbccafacebookcomGVCCbctwittercomgvcc
Editorial Collective Kate Berniaz MichaelFisher Felicity Perryman Olena Russell
Editors Kate Berniaz Olena RussellDesigner Felicity PerrymanContributors Jim Alix Kate Berniaz JanetBesler Michael Fisher Jennifer FreemanBrenda Guiled John Luton Norah Macey
Sam Macey Darren Marr Felicity PerrymanEd Pullman Olena Russell Ray StraatsmaOliver Terry Tony Webster
Distribution Brenda BoydBike Couriers Brenda Boyd Barry Edmon-son Jim Grayson Norah Macey Sam MaceyForrest Nelson John Perry
GVCC Board of DirectorsPresident Edward PullmanVice-president Felicity Perryman Treasurer Michael FisherSecretary Brenda BoydDirector Sam MaceyDirector Darren MarrDirector Olena RussellDirector Mike Russell
Director Ray Straatsma
Printed by First Choice Booksamp Victoria Bindery
The GVCC is a proud member of theBritish Columbia Cycling Coalition
Cycle Therapy Cycle Therapy welcomes submissions of ideas articles and
photography Deadline for next issue October 15 2013 Volunteers
interested in experience working on a growing magazine are welcome
Reach cyclists and support cycling advocacy with an ad in Cycle Therapy
Very reasonable rates Contact us at cycletherapygvccbcca
2 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Ride Donrsquot HideOn Sunday June 23rd over 120 cyclists took
part in the inauguralRide Donrsquot Hide eventin Victoria The ridestarted in 2011 whenMichael Schatter cy-cled 40000 km aroundthe world to raiseawareness of mentalhealth and its importance Sincethen other communities have
joined in and 2013 marked thefirst time in Victoria
Volunteers from across Vic-toria including many from theGVCC helped ensure that the
ride was a success and mediacoverage was extensive andpositive Riders enjoyed a sce-nic ride along Dallas Road fromOgden Pier where the event wasco-located with MECrsquos BikeF-est Inspiring speakers includedlocal author Michelle Mulderand Adam Kreek Olympic row-er GVCC Treasurer MichaelFisher was volunteer coordina-tor to support his daughter whois bi-polar
The statistics on mentalhealth issues are staggering
as it is expected tha15 of women wil
require mental healthassistance duringtheir life and the statistics for men aresimilar although menare frequently reluctant to seek help Theride was run in 12 oth-
er communities in BC to raisemoney and more importantlyawareness about mental healthissues in Canada It is expected to be an annual event withgrowing participation Thiyearrsquos event in Vancouver in
volved more than 1000 cyclistsThe GVCC helped supporthe event through the tireleswork of volunteers Cycling is awonderful way to enjoy exercisein your daily life and this mayreduce the impact of mentahealth issues but do make useof medical psychiatric and psychological support
byMICHAEL FISHER
Canadian Menta
Health Association
victoriacmhabcca
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETING
will take place
WED OCT16 TH 2013 AT 7 PM
Selkirk Montessori School2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Guest Speaker
ERIN OrsquoMELINNExecutive Director of HUBformerly the Vancouver AreaCycling Coalition
Presentation
BIKE FRIENDLY BUSINESSPROGRAM
Board of Directors
ELECTIONS
TO VOTE You must be a member in good standingprior to September 16th 2013
4 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
NEW NAME SAME LOCATION
1419 BROAD STREET VICTORIA BCCOME SEE WHAT WERE UP TO
copy Ride Donrsquot Hide
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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The Greater Victoria Cycling Coalitionand its nearly 400 members believe inour vision of getting more people cyclingmore places more often As yoursquoll see fromthe list below wersquove been busy lately
A ttended the Township of Esquimaltrsquos
recent Open House on the proposed
changes to Admirals Road to make it
more pedestrian and cycle friendly and pressed
our points about the kinds of bike lanes that
should be installed
A ttended the District of Saanichrsquos open-house on changes to Cook Street and theShelbourne Valley Action Plan Mobility
Focus Group to deliver our position on how bestto make these streets more cycle friendly Thanksto Duncan McLelland for his work
Met with City of Victoria staff to discuss
a number of cycling infrastructure is-
sues including BC Transitrsquos proposals
for bus priority lanes on Douglas Street and
potential adverse effects these could have for
cyclists trafc calming measures installed in
Beacon Hill Park changes to Vancouver Street
new bike lanes on JohnsonBegbiePandora
Streets and cycling infrastructure for the new
Johnston Street Bridge
Talked with CRD Parks planning regarding
xing andor replacing the wooden bridge
decks on the trestles on the Galloping
Goose and Lochside trails
Continue to liaise and support the Oak Bay
Active Transportation Committee in their
efforts to help make that municipality
more bike- and pedestrian-friendly
A nother season of Theme Rides So far
we have held the Rites of Spring Ride
the Scenic Murals Tour and the ldquoMagicalrdquo
Historical Ride
Organized free Recreational Rides almostevery weekend and have recently be-
gun to hold two types of rides - rides
for those wanting to ride at a moderate to fast
pace and rides for those wanting to Smell
the Roses Recent rides have included rides to
Schwartz Bay featuring lunch at the Stonehouse
Pub and an overnight camping trip to the Sooke
Potholes Thanks to Simon Wigzell the principal
organizer of most of these rides
W ere awarded a $10000 Sustainability
Grant by the City of Victoria and will
soon be seeking a contractor to help
us develop a ldquoBikes Mean Businessrdquo program
W e had our booth at 11 locations duringBike To Work Week Thanks to all those
who volunteered including Brenda
Boyd Ryan Mijker Ray Straatsma Forrest Nelson
Janet Besler Michael Fisher Jim Alix Ed Pullman
Olena and Mike Russell
W orked with City of Victoria Emergency
Management to organize a 1-day lsquoTour
de Disasterrsquo held on July 27th Forty
people took part in a 25 km rally that wiggled its
way around the city of Victoria
Congratulations to Bill Lane (rst place) Joanne
Thompson (second place) and Bike Sense
Editor Sara Stallard (third place) And a specialthanks to event organizer Rob Johns of Victoria
Emergency Management Agency
Purchased a Norco Birota cargo bike to re
place the GVCC Whale a large trailer The
new trike is pictured above with GVCC
President Ed Pullman and Director Ryan Mijke
and son Ilya who completed the Tour de
Disaster with it
Continue to manage 32 bike lockers at three
BC Transit hub locations (thanks to ou
new Bike Locker coordinator Ron Fownes)
The bike lockers are only $10 a month and are a
great way to securely store your bike and then
board a bus at a bus exchange gvccbccastore
Many GVCC members helped the CRD
conduct bike counts in May and July
These are helpful in determining where
to target improvements in cycling infrastructure
in the Greater Victoria area Much thanks to those
participants who donated their honorariums to
the GVCC
What Have We Done For You Latelycompiled by Sam Macey
Riders on the Architecturaltour admire the Belfry
Theatre in Fernwood Sq
Photo by S Macey
Victoria City councillor
Ben Isitt and GVCC
president Ed Pullman
shake hands on having
completed the tour
Photos this page by
FPerryman or as noted
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 5
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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I canrsquot think of a better place in this country to live or travel
to for some amazing tourism by bicycle than here
on Vancouver Island The crisp sea breeze the
plethora of destinations the beautiful trails and
quiet back roads all make for an ideal touring
experience As someone whorsquos done a bit of
exploring of the surrounding area by bicycle
I wanted to offer you the reader some tips
destinations and web resources to check out to
hopefully get you going on your rst bike trip
G V C C
P r e s
i d e n t rsquo s
M e s s a ge
Welcome to Travel on Two Wheels
Cycle Therapy
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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First and foremost anyone can do cycle touring All you
need is a bicycle a sturdy luggage rack a pair of pan-
niers and a bungee cord to strap items to the back of
your bike Most people I talk to who have not done
cycle touring marvel at what great shape I must be in to
be able to cycle 100 kms in a day at which point I laugh
and inform them that cycling to work and the odd trip
to the Y are about all the exercise I usually get You donrsquotneed a great bike or to be in great shape to do cycle
touring Just give yourself plenty of time to get where
you are going
For my friends looking to take their rst cycling trip I
always recommend taking the Galloping Goose out to
the Sooke Potholes Campground for a night or two Itrsquos
only 50 km away on a very easy trail Therersquos lots to ex-
plore at the potholes including Leechtown the ghost
town about 7 km north of the Potholes where the Gal -
loping Goose Trail ends Just donrsquot forget to bring an
extra inner tube or two a pump and some tire leversin case you get a at along the rocky trail
For a more challenging trip hop the Mill Bay Ferry
and head up to Lake Cowichan via back roads or take
the Trans Canada Trail up from Shawnigan Lake (and
marvel at the beauty of Kinsol Trestle on your way
there) Alternatively take the Coho over to Port Ange-
les and head over to Port Townsend Be sure to take
the Olympic Discovery Trail between Port Angeles
and Sequim before getting on Highway 101 Take the
ferry to Whidbey Island and up to Anacortes (and over
the stunning Deception Pass) before catching the ferr y
back to SidneyGo to cyclevancouverislandca to check out lots of
things to do and places to visit on bike here on Vancou-
ver Island Finally check out warmshowersorg Itrsquos a free
worldwide hospitality exchange for cyclists Sign up to
get access to thousands of billet listings and offer your
own home up for touring cyclists
If you have some cycle touring stories from in and
around Greater Victoria and the surrounding area
send them to me at presidentgvccbcca and I will
post them on our website for others to check out and
either replicate your awesome experience or hopeful-ly avoid some of the pitfalls you may have encoun-
tered on your two-wheel journey
EDWARD PULLMAN is the GVCCpresident and avid cycle tourist
Downtown Victoria BC seen from Songhees point at
sunset on an August evening Photo by Felicity Perryman
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 7
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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A Salt Spring Island Gander
W
hatrsquos good for the Goose ndash ie cycling the Gallop-ing Goose Trail ndash has got to be good for the Gan-der ndash meaning spinning over the Salt Spring Islandsection of the emerging Salish Sea Regional Trail
Network The Salish Sea Regional Trail Network will ultimate-ly connect the Galloping Goose Lochside Trails Trans-Can-ada Trail Humpback and Cowichan Valley Regional TrailWhether yoursquore an experienced cyclist or newly venturing outSalt Springrsquos bound to be a memorable trip Itrsquos got it all Here
is a primer for your Salt SpringGander so you come prepared
Salt Spring Island has alwaysbeen a great place to visit wheth-er for a day trip to the FarmerrsquosMarket or for a weekend at a lo-cal Bed and Breakfast A groupof committed residents Island
Pathways is working to makethe Island more accessible forcyclists both locals and tourists
Yoursquoll most likely come by ferry Your little sea cruise willcost $200 extra the price of walking on with your bicycle If youhave a BC Ferries Experience card the fee is waived The solebenefit of this purchase is the privilege of parking your bicycleby a bow or stern rail Bicycles strapped to the back of vehiclestaking up deck space go for free Go figure
Chances are good yoursquoll meet a few cyclists on board Cyclingtraffic on Salt Spring sailings has increased approximately 12each of the last five years while motor traffic has declined overthe same period Cheers for you yoursquore pushing the wave Cha
up fellow pedallers find out if theyrsquore seasoned Salt Spring Is-land riders or intrepid newbies The formerwill tell you things worth knowing aboutcycling on island the latter may appreciatehearing some tips yoursquove picked up here
Wander the boat to find a big framedversion of Island Pathways award-win-ning ldquoHeritage Map with Bike RoutesrdquoItrsquos also posted by Rock Salt Restaurantat Fulford and by the Visitorsrsquo Centrein Ganges This map is a must-seefor its touring historic natural his-tory and geologic information For
those who want to read and learnfrom it itrsquos a must-have memen-to You can buy it for $850 atmany island stores or you canorder it from wwwisland-pathwaysca
From this map and theTrails BC map (trailsbccavancouver-island
by Brenda Guiled
Bike shop in Fulford Harbour by P Medved View of the Fulford Valley from Mount Maxwell by ProudlyDonut
Morningside Organic Cafe in Fulford Harbour by Nen222Saltspring fishing boat by NRTphotos
After walking your bike off the
ferry set yourinner clock to
island time
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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loops-journeyscowichan-salt-spring-180-km)you can plan your routes If yoursquore on the SwartzBay-Fulford Harbour ferry look for Salt SpringldquoShare the Roadrdquo brochures ndash another Island Path-ways initiative Keep one on hand for safety and con-tact information
Salt Springrsquos new Cycling Master Plan calls for a
bikeway along the main spine roads connecting thethree ferry terminals through the Ganges hub butthese are fast busy highways For quieter safer ridesyoursquod best take the peaceful back roads shown on theTrails BC map
After walking your bike off the ferry set your in-ner clock to island time ie donrsquot rush Wait until
the cars and trucks have cleared the boatand roared up the road Yoursquoll
see why you needthose stay-put min-utes when you hitthe pavementhellip be-
cause a lot of pave-ment is lacking on the
shouldersSalt Spring roads
are narrow windingand hilly plus most are in
rough shape from decadeswithout capital upgrades
Yoursquore definitely in the coun-try and on quiet stretches cy-
cling can be bucolic and restful comparedto staying wired for urban hazards
While you wonrsquot likely get doored onSalt Spring even in town on the busiesdays there are challenges aplenty tokeep you alert This includes sharingthe limited road space with drivers
fellow cyclists and deer The dangersand idiocies arenrsquot terribly commonbut they give something for locals
to gripe about Please be appropriately cau-tious and considerate without fail to maximize the safe-
ty and pleasure of your trip and leave a good vibe behind whenyoursquore gone
For amenities and things to do consult Island Pathways mapdo a web search including local media the Gulf Islands Drift-wood and Community Exchange pick up brochures aboard theferries ask around as you sail and when on island and stop at theVisitorsrsquo Centre in Ganges
While cycling on island yoursquoll encounter farm stands studios
to visit hiking possibilities and if yoursquore tuned and ready forthem serendipitous connections bound to make your trip espe-cially charmed in a very Salt Spring way
BRENDA GUILED is chair of Island Pathways a Salt SpringIsland non-profit thatrsquos been working to improve non
motorized transportation on Salt Spring Island for 25 yearsshe spearheads Island Pathways Bicycle Working Group
On the dock at Fulford by H Marsh Saturday farmers market in Ganges by SmallestBones
Ganges harbour by RJ RuppenthalBike shop in Ganges by ReshElectrons
S a l i s h S e
a T r a i l
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 9
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1024
dominate the narrow streets Trucks are permitted only be-
fore 10 am to re-supply the shops but there were parking lotsand bike racks nearby for cars and bikes It took a bit of time to
get accustomed to cycling along with the thousands of othercyclists on the roads and it became even more important to
carefully watch for other cyclists along with pedestrians andmotorized traff ic
There is a lot of new housing being constructed outside
of Utrecht and Oss The Dutch suburbs we saw all had great
cycling amenities We rode on many paved bike paths sepa-rate but alongside the roads for cars and trucks On many ofthe narrow farm roads there are marked
bike lanes on both sides of the road leav-ing only enough space for one car to drivebetween
In Doesburg about 60 km east of Osswe saw hundreds of bikes locked to the bike
racks near the train stations There werealso bike lockers at the stations and they
appeared fully occupied from morning toevening The likely reason Many Dutchpeople have two bikes ndash one to ride from
their residence to the train station and an-other at the other end to ride from there to
their work siteWhile there are lots of bikes and lots of
cycling infrastructure along with commut-er rail and bus services in Holland like
BC most families seem to own a car alongwith one or more bikes and virtually allthe goods available in stores arrive there
by truck Holland has a pretty efficienthighway system but also has traffic jams
(we noticed the equivalent to our ColwoodCrawl in some cities) We also took note o
the consideration paid to cyclists by Dutchtransportation planners A special high-way overpass was constructed for cyclists
to pass over a section of freeway that wasbeing reconstructed near Oss ndash we havenrsquot
noticed that much consideration in BC
Cyclingin Holland
Our first impressions of Hollandwere not of bicycles but of the
modern efficient freeway systemfor cars and trucks But when we arrived
in Gouda bicycles were everywhere andfor good reason Holland is ldquoflat as a Dutchpannekoekrdquo so itrsquos easy to bike and old cit-
ies like Gouda have very narrow roads andlimited places for cars to drive and park
(residents require parking permits for theircars though most seem to own a car) We
saw cyclists of all ages ndash children business-
men and seniors riding Dutch-style bikes ndash high handlebars long wheelbase fullfenders enclosed chains built-in head- andtaillights and rear wheel locks and usually
equipped with huge panniersBike helmets are not mandatory in Hol-
land and only the Dutch sport bicycle rid-ers seem to favour wearing them Small
gas-powered motor scooters are also per-mitted on bike paths In Utrecht (3rd larg-est Dutch city) and Oss a smaller town
the downtowns are quite old so pedestrians
B i k e s i n H o l l a n d b y S h i r a t
s k i
b y N o r a h M
a c e y
Dutch farm roads near Oss Note the 2 bikelanes leaving room for only 1 car
Cyclists of all ages in Oss ndashnote they donrsquot ride single file
The bike in the foreground features an electric
motor on the front wheel ndash the battery is in the
chain guard and easily removed for overnight
charging The bike in the background is
specially made for the Dutch Post Office ndash single
speed but capable of carrying 40 kg of mail
10 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Cycling on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man is about the size of Saltspring Island but with a much
bigger population (86000) Besides tourism and agriculture thecountry is a tax haven and
most international banksinsurance companies and in-
vestment houses have offices
there Each year for over 100years the Isle of Man Tourist
Trophy or TT motorcycleraces have attracted spec-
tators Run on public roadsthey are very dangerous rac-
es We stayed 8km outsideof Douglas the main cityon the Isle and thought that
renting bicycles would be agreat way to get around during race week But after enjoying such easy
pedaling in Holland cycling on the Isle of Man was no joy and made usmore appreciative of the cycling infrastructure and amenities we have
in Greater VictoriaThere are plenty of cyclists on the Isle of Man such as Mark Cav-
endish the ldquoManx Missilerdquo and winner of 5 stages of this yearrsquos Giro
drsquoItalia The Isle also has lots of public trails that mountain bikers enjoyBut for commuter and recreational cycling other than a paved bike path
along the Promenade tourist area in Douglas there is nothing The roadsare narrow most have no sidewalks and many have hedges on both sides
so it can be unnerving to be pedaling or even walking on them Thereare plenty of hills as we found
when getting to and from ourhotel and of course we hadto adjust to riding on the left
and mounted our strap-onmirrors on our right handle-
bars We found that motoristswere generally courteous to
cyclists on Isle of ManOverall our travels to
Holland and Isle of Man made us appreciate how much better Greater
Victoriarsquos cycling amenities and infrastructure could be (like in Holland)and appreciate that what we have is far better than that in some other
countries like Isle of Man
NORAH MACEY is a GVCC member and part of the ThemeRides organizing committee Photos by Sam Macey
Biking in Europe
My life will never be the same For I havetasted the joy of bike lanes that donrsquot endcycling infrastructure everywhere and
traffic that patiently yields to bikes Yes itrsquos Co-penhagen MY element Getting to Copenhagenwas an adventure so I should start from the be-
ginningNine of us signed up for a 12 day ride from Ber-lin to Copenhagen during June 2013 ldquoRadwegrdquotook us over 700 kms through East Germanyto Denmark Germany has excellent bike pathsranging from hard packed gravel to concretetracks to pavement A few kms were on secondaryroads We rode with the birds through managedforests and on concrete tracks through farmersfields We also rode beside the sea canals andlakes Fragrance of linden trees wild roses andmock orange greeted us often
The ride was challenging with rolling hills andaverage distances of 60+ km Of course we had oneday of fierce head winds with rolling hills and adistance of 60 km to test our endurance
When the path took us to Denmark we cameacross more roads than in Germany But within30 km of Copenhagen those incredible bike lanesbegin Bike lanes are on every street and manyare raised about 6 inches from other lanes Bikeshave their own traffic lights of course In the coreof the city at major intersections bright blue lanesalert vehicles to yield to bikes And they do Mo-torists stop before turning right looking right forbikes Naturally bikes are allowed on subways andtrains and there are ramps to accommodate rath-
er than stairs Truly a cyclists dream Berlin wassimilarly bike friendly although with less desig-nated bike lanes
Anyone who likes to ride bike really ought totry cycling in Copenhagen Or broaden your ex-perience and ride from Berlin
JANET BESLER is a 10-year member of the GVCC andcurrently works with the themed rides committeeNewly retired she has the luxury of cycling more
B i k e s i n B e r l i n v i a F l i c k r c r e at i v e c o m m o n s
The cycle routefrom Berlin toCopenhagen
Marine Drive near Douglas is one of thebetter places to cycle on the Isle as carsare restricted
Racks full of bikes outside Oss train stationin Holland
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 1
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Itrsquos not just the traditional bike vacation orthe stereotype of a grubby loner cheapingout with a tent and a forestry campsite
but weekend riders with expensive bikes anda credit card looking for good food gooddrink and the mileage to earn the calories
Ten years ago I took a trip to the Seattle
Bike Show to promote Vancouver Island as acycling destination It was part of an initiativeenvisioned by Brian Hobson operations man-ager at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel who wasand still is years ahead of the curve
A thousand people flowed through thebooth I had with my marketing friend GeorgeAllen a fellow racer from the early days of thebike boom in the lsquo70s We designed a surveyand found what Brian had already discovered ndash bike holidays involved nice hotels cozy Band Brsquos and a more generous budget thanmost in the tourist industry assumed though
more are gaining that understandingIn the intervening years we produced a
couple of maps and struggling to find theformula to get it back into print itrsquos an ideathat has never gone away but seems like anidea whose time has really come
Event tourism is getting bigger withldquoGran Fondordquo events popping up in com-munities near and far ndash a couple in Victoriawhere hundreds or thousands for riders take
Cycling While that may
metaphor itrsquos
idays are in Y
trend across N
world Here to
Island or a shor
or the America
the steady stre
routes and trails
tracted by the
Victoria and S
the circle bette
La Route Verte Quebec by S Olmsted
Arbutus CoveGuest House
Te perfect overnightbike getaway from Victoria
and surrounding communities
Arbutus Cove is a beautiful waterfront bou-tique guest house located on the GallopingGoose trail 37 kilometers from Victoria onthe Sooke Basin a 3 hour ride
3 private deluxe rooms each with theirown entrances queen beds and full bath-rooms share a huge waterfront deck withhot tub await the cycling visitor
A 15 minute walk takes you to the 17 Mile
Pub for supper and a breakfast is servedbefore your departure
June 15 - Sept 14 $150 ( for 2)Sept 15 - June 14 $125 (for 2)
Reservations
wwwarbutuscoveguesthousecom
London England has aggressively increased cycling rates by
adding bike lanes cycle hire stations and recently committing to a $15 billion
10-year plan to create a complete cycling network in the city The mayor and
his team aim to ldquode-Lycra-fyrdquo cycling and get ldquonormal peoplerdquo on bikes as part
of every day life and the cityrsquos fabric ~The Guardian
Photos London bikeshare bikes ready for hire Shoreditch in use in Soho a
popular sticker commuters headed home and the view from a double deckerof bikes mixing with vehicle traffic in south London June 2013 by F Perryman 98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313712 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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e new golfng a little tired as a
e mark Active hol-
nd examples of a
rica and around the
oria and across the
y on the Gulf Islands
ans not to mention
yclists crowding the
ympic Peninsula at-
y of loop tours with
Most everyone likes
out and back ride)
Slickrock Trail Moab Utah by Trailsource
to the roads for day long loops of every roadthey can get local governments to carve offfor them The races out there are part of thatmarket too ndash they bring riders into a com-munity to fill up hotels and order dessertsat every turn They donrsquot just come to enjoythe ride they bring their 5000 calorie a day
appetites with them Do the mathVermontrsquos cycle tourism industry is big-
ger than maple syrup Nobody heard of Moabuntil mountain bikers made it a destinationVelo Quebec has created a powerhouse in-dustry around La Route Verte and createdthousands of jobs along with it The Okana-gan was in a panic when fire destroyed tres-tles along the Kettle Valley rail trail ndash Chamber of Commerce spokes-persons told anybody in themedia who would listen thatthe disaster could cost them
$5 million a year in lossesBack here in Victoria
we who see the world frombehind the handlebars haveknown for a long time whatan asset we have in our trailsnot just the roads and routesof the city and countryside Morethan a couple of million trips a year arerecorded on the Goose and Lochside Many
are of course local commuters but tens of thou-sands will be our visitor market or another sliceof the travel industry the local day traveler Thebakery in Sidney doesnrsquot care if the visitor isfrom Victoria or Virginia They just know thatsomeone on a bike discovered them on a bike
More are on the way The new EampN trail is
disjointed and incomplete but find your way oualong the corridor and you will see commutersand neighbourhood residents have already dis-covered what it has to offer The cycling touristswonrsquot be far behind if they arenrsquot there already
Before the Goose was done I was out explor-ing the emerging trail ndash no pavement no bridg-es no signs but the name had found its way to
New Zealand and some Kiwi on a bike wasstruggling up and down the slopes at
Wilkinson Rd where there is a trestlenow He wasnrsquot the first And moreclearly he was the very thin edge of
the wedge ndash a tsunami of riders iswashing up on our shores and wewould do well to make them feewelcome
JOHN LUTON is Executive Directorof Capital Bike and Walk which provides
consulting services on infrastructureand services for cycling and walking and
coordinates the Vancouver Island Cycle TourismAlliance to promote the Island as a cycling
destination He is a former president of the GVCC
a tsunamiof riders is
washing up onour shores
by JohnLuton
Kettle Valley BC by Spatialmongrel
theybring their
5000 caloriea day appetites with them Do
the math
Andalucia Spain The cities of southern Spain including Seville CordobaMalaga and Granada have taken their rate of cycling from nearly zero to more than double
that of Victoriarsquos Seville in 2006-7 added 120km of separated bike lanes and went from
5000 riders a day to over 72000 for a bike share of 7 ldquoSeville is now a cleaner
greener placeThe cycle lanes make it much easier to feel securerdquo
~ J Sanchez Seville
Photos L to R Sevici Bike share
in Seville (photo flickrcom)
separated bike lanes in Malaga
bike share outside Cordoba
train station tourism by bike -
Roman ruins in Malaga and a
local citizen in Malaga riding
its smooth flat routesPhotos
by F Perryman June 2013Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 13983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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W e in Victoria like to pride our-selves as a cycling destinationcity Indeed many visitors come
to Victoria to sample our cycle-friendli-ness Assets such as the Galloping Gooseand Lochside Trails a mild climate to cy-cle year-round our relative compactnessand our healthy active and sustainablelifestyle have all contributed to a vibrantcycling culture which many visitors haveadmired
Although I am bless-ed to live in a community
where it is fashionable tobike to the store the showor a coffee date as well aswork I have often won-dered if there are similarcities to ours where cy-cling is the thing to doand where people visit for the riding orculture
While reviewing a recent League ofAmerican Bicyclists commuter modeshare report (2010) 2 cities caught myattention Davis California with a 22mode share and Santa Barbara California
with 64 (For the record Greater Victo-ria is 59 the highest in Canada) SinceDavis is known historically as a cyclingcity and Santa Barbara is a popular train-ing ground for cycle racers I decided toexplore these cities for myself last May
Santa Barbara was my first stop Ar-riving by train from Los Angeles I no-ticed at least a dozen bikes passing the
station in my first 15 minuteshere Within hours of my
arrival I had a rental bike from SantaBarbara Bikes-to-Go all set up and wasgiven a tour of the city by Ralph Fer-tig a member of the SantaBarbara Bicycle Coalition(SBBC) While touring thecity I noticed that there is auniform look to many of thebuildings here all designed
in the Spanish adobe styleand fairly low rise (not ex-ceeding 6 stories)
Santa Barbara has some well-devel-oped bicycle facilities The best knownand most popular pathway is the Cabril-lo Boulevard bike path paralleling thebeachfront yielding tremendous viewsOn weekends this path can get busy withwalkers joggers in-line skaters and ofcourse cyclists Most cyclists are thoseon cruiser bikes enjoying a leisurely ride
Santa Barbara Countyhas 206 miles of bike lanes
and designated bike routesWhile some of these routesare well designed and con-venient other streets disap-pointingly have bike laneswhich permit cars to beparked in them during busi-
ness hours Other bike lanes are narrowlydesigned like those on State Street themain thoroughfare
Bike parking can also be an issuewhen parking downtown Most facilitiestend to accommodate cable lock parkingover u-lock parking as it may be more
convenient to carry these type of locksaround Unfortunately cable locks havetheir security shortcomings In additionmany public buildings down-town have the ldquowheel benderrdquokind of rack which not onlyprovides little protection fromtheft but could damage a bicy-clersquos wheels if knocked over For-tunately for commuters SantaBarbara has a Bikestation where
members can access secure bike parking247 as well as access repair facilitiesduring business hours
If there is hope for cy-cling facilities developmenin the future it can befound at the University oCalifornia Santa Barbarain suburban Goleta Sim
ilar to the University inVictoria in enrolment size(22000 students) the cam
pus looks very similar in layout to UVicminus the ring road Touring with UCSBPlanning Officer Steve Conner the cam-pus has rows and rows of bike parkingfor students many specifically designedto accommodate U-locks Bike paths areseparated from pedestrian traff ic and of-ten have roundabouts for traffic calmingAs the campus is 8 miles from Santa Bar-bara many of UCSBrsquos innovations havenot had any influence on Santa Barbararsquos
facilities development though this mayhopefully change with continued advoca-cy efforts from the SBBC
The main attractions for bicyclingvisitors to Santa Barbara are the bikepathways and scenic routes leading ouof town and into places such as Goletaand the Santa Ynez valley Pathways suchas the Coast Route and the Maria Ignacio Creek Route offer a safe and leisure-ly ride to Goleta Beach and the UCSBcampus The roads leading to Solvangand the Santa Ynez valley attract seriousroad riders as well as those who wish to
explore the vineyards of thatarea or view the
A TALE OFTWO CITIES
SANTA BARBARA
amp DAVIS CALIFORNIA
byDarrenMarr
PART 1 ndashSANTA BARBARA
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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scenes from the movie Sideways Ofcourse most visitors to the city renta bike or use a loaner from their hoteland ride along the Cabrillo Boulevardbike path
As for in-town attractions MissionSanta Barbara is a must if you are in-terested in the colonial history of thearea and the role of Catholic mission-aries in the development of California
society The Santa Barbara NaturalHistory Museum less than 1 km near-by has excellent exhibits on the landand marine wildlife plus indigenoussettlement of the area Though thereare bike friendly streets leading up tothe area be cautioned that the roadsleading there are hilly
Closer to downtown notable placesof interest include the Courthouse withits muraled courtrooms and bell tower
and the SantaBarbara Mu-seum of Art
both on StateStreet Closerto the beach-front you canfind the San-
ta Barbara Zoo Stearns Wharf withits shops and restaurants and ChasePalm Park with its turn of the centurycarousel If you are fortunate to be intown Tuesdays or Saturdays the San-ta Barbara Farmers Market has someof the finest organic produce fromaround Southern California
Overall Santa Barbara is a very
bikeable city with the Mediterraneanclimate and the compactness of the citycontributing to a vibrant cycling envi-ronment Thousands of people crowdedCabrillo Boulevard in mid-May to watchracers in the Amgen Tour De Californiapass through their community perhapsseeing a future Tour De France cham-pion in the making During the cityrsquosannual CycleMAYnia festival themedrides educational workshops and a bi-cycle fashion show dot the May calen-dar And with the cityrsquos bent on sustain-ability one is bound to find scores of
bicycles at the farmers marketsand at Earth Day celebrations
Makes you wonder if thecity had a few more mod-ern bicycle facilities justhow much more of a bi-cycle friendly communitySanta Barbara could po-tentially be
IF YOU GO
Please refer toRalph Fertigrsquosbicycle tour-ism websitebike-santabar-baraorg for in-formation ontours maps bi-cycle-friendly ac-commodation and bike rentals and shopsI found it to be an excellent resource on allthings cycling in Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalitionis located at 506 E Haley Street andhouses Bici Centro the non-profit bicy-cle repair and restoration shop operatedby the SBBC Programs run from theshop help support youth empowermentand cycling education outreach Web-site bicicentroorg
Did you know there is a GVCC inSanta Barbara The Goleta Valley Cy-cling Club (GVCC) holds recreationalrides around the Santa Barbara area 3times a week Check out their websitegoletabikeorg
Go by train Amtrakrsquos Pacific Sur-fliner route arrives from Los Angeles 5times daily There are bike racks on thetrain but they must be reserved in ad-vance You can also save 20 off yourfare by booking in advance Check outsantabarbaracarfreeorg
Thanks to Ralph Steve Kent Ep-person of Traffic Solutions and EdFrance SBBC Executive Director for
filling me in on the cycling advocacyscene in Santa Barbara
Next issue Part II DavisCalifornia
DARREN MARR is a past presidentof the GVCC and likes to explore
different cities by bike
Photos by D Marr
768 Yates Street Victoria downstairs from Lylersquos Pla
Cenote Restaurant and Loun
CyclistfriendlyGVCCmembersget 10off food
Just off the Goose thSelk Trest
Selkirk Station106-80 Regatta Landing l 250-383-1466
wwwselkirkstationcom
Sales - Service - Rentals - Tours
Elite Electric Bikes
Courtesy Bikes
wwwvictoriavelotechca
2002 Fernwood Road
Victoria BC V8T 2Y9
2509205520
infovictoriavelotechca
Vi
c
t
o
r
i
a
Ve
l
o
te
c
hPRO-SHOP
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 15
386-BIKE (24
1725 Quadra Street Victoria BC V8W 2Lwwwnorthparkbikeshopcom
Sales amp Repairs
10 OFFfor GVCC memb
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1624
W ork continues on constructing the EampN Rail Trail
along the EampN rail line from Victoria to LangfordThe trail is planned to eventually join with the future
Trans Canada Trail running north up Vancouver Island So faronly a few sections are officially open Given that trail construc-tion began in 2010 and is projected to take sev-eral more years to be fully completed now is agood time to consider the challenges in build-ing the Rail Trail
In January 2013 Scansa Construction wasawarded a $196 million contract by CRD for thesections between Colville and Admirals Roadand Maplebank Road (just east of the SongheesNation reserve) and between Hallowell Road
and Craigflower Road by the Four Mile Pub(just northwest of the Songhees reserve)Building the trail is much more than sim-
ply bulldozing trees and brush out of the wayand laying down a layer of asphalt Thereneeds to be a solid roadbed underneath the asphalt in order tohave a smooth level surface that is stable There also needs tobe a drainage system so that rain and surface water will not
wash out the trailIn some places there were large rock outcroppings
that needed to be removed by blasting Howeverthere are houses very close to ndash and in some
cases built on ndash these rock outcroppings so
the blasting had to be carefully controlled to prevent damage to
nearby buildings As well the trail needs to be relatively flatand this has meant bringing in crushed rock in some places tofill in the dips and gullies
In addition to constructing the trail Southern Vancouver Island Rail is installing signals at level rail crossings along the rail line including Intervale andHutchinson Roads in Esquimalt
These sections of the EampN Rail Trail on eitherside of the Songhees Nation reserve are expected tobe open this fall And while these may be helpful tosome bike commuters particularly those headingtoward CFB Esquimalt and the expanding Seaspanshipyards next door to CFB Esquimalt more work
remains to be doneThe short section between Wilson Street andEsquimalt Road in Vic West is still to be tackledalong with constructing a safe crossing for raitrail users at Esquimalt Road near Robert Street
Constructing the trail from the Old Island Highway to wesof Helmcken Road has not yet been scheduled Two bridges paralleling railway trestles (at the Old Island Highway
near the 4 Mile Pub and Helmcken Road in View Royal) wereconstructed to allow for the trail last year Construction of thelatter section of the rail trail would provide a level route towardthe West Shore Until this section of the trail is constructed cyclists wanting to use the new section of the trail that should open
EampN Rail ConstructionUpdate by Sam Macey
EampN Rail Trailsections shouldprovide manycommuters a
choice to use their
bikes rather thantheir cars
16 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1724
this summer will be faced with going up and over 4 Mile Hill
The Trail bypasses the Songhees Nation Reserve near Esqui-malt so cyclists will travel alongside Admirals Road betweenHallowell and Maplebank Roads to rejoin the Rail Trail This isa rather hilly detour from the level rail line
The Admirals RoadColville intersection was upgraded sev-eral years ago but little thought was given to adequately provid-ing for pedestrian and bike crossings
While lots of work remains to be done to fully complete theEampN Trail from east to west completion of these new sections
will be a change for the better Given all the residential develop
ment taking place on the Westshore these EampN Rail Trail sections should provide many commuters a choice to use their bikerather than their cars and thus avoid being stuck in the growingtraffic congestion that now sees both Old Island Highway andTrans Canada Highway traffic at a near standstill during morning and afternoon commutes
SAM MACEY is a GVCC Director anTheme Rides Committee leader
All photos by Sam Macey
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Cyclists and pedestrians crossing Admirals
Road at Colville will be a problem
2 Early work on the trail near Four Mile Hill
and Craigflower showing one of the drainage
problems
3 Rail Crossing control box by Hutchinson road
4 New drainage by trail
5 Removal of rock outcroppings
6 New paving new Hallowell The final result The
new trail has been built up and leveled proper
drainage lines were installed beneath the trail
surface
7 Mural on the navy drydock
8 New rock wall
Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 17983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 19983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313720 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
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Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
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CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
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Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Ride Donrsquot HideOn Sunday June 23rd over 120 cyclists took
part in the inauguralRide Donrsquot Hide eventin Victoria The ridestarted in 2011 whenMichael Schatter cy-cled 40000 km aroundthe world to raiseawareness of mentalhealth and its importance Sincethen other communities have
joined in and 2013 marked thefirst time in Victoria
Volunteers from across Vic-toria including many from theGVCC helped ensure that the
ride was a success and mediacoverage was extensive andpositive Riders enjoyed a sce-nic ride along Dallas Road fromOgden Pier where the event wasco-located with MECrsquos BikeF-est Inspiring speakers includedlocal author Michelle Mulderand Adam Kreek Olympic row-er GVCC Treasurer MichaelFisher was volunteer coordina-tor to support his daughter whois bi-polar
The statistics on mentalhealth issues are staggering
as it is expected tha15 of women wil
require mental healthassistance duringtheir life and the statistics for men aresimilar although menare frequently reluctant to seek help Theride was run in 12 oth-
er communities in BC to raisemoney and more importantlyawareness about mental healthissues in Canada It is expected to be an annual event withgrowing participation Thiyearrsquos event in Vancouver in
volved more than 1000 cyclistsThe GVCC helped supporthe event through the tireleswork of volunteers Cycling is awonderful way to enjoy exercisein your daily life and this mayreduce the impact of mentahealth issues but do make useof medical psychiatric and psychological support
byMICHAEL FISHER
Canadian Menta
Health Association
victoriacmhabcca
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETING
will take place
WED OCT16 TH 2013 AT 7 PM
Selkirk Montessori School2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Guest Speaker
ERIN OrsquoMELINNExecutive Director of HUBformerly the Vancouver AreaCycling Coalition
Presentation
BIKE FRIENDLY BUSINESSPROGRAM
Board of Directors
ELECTIONS
TO VOTE You must be a member in good standingprior to September 16th 2013
4 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
NEW NAME SAME LOCATION
1419 BROAD STREET VICTORIA BCCOME SEE WHAT WERE UP TO
copy Ride Donrsquot Hide
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The Greater Victoria Cycling Coalitionand its nearly 400 members believe inour vision of getting more people cyclingmore places more often As yoursquoll see fromthe list below wersquove been busy lately
A ttended the Township of Esquimaltrsquos
recent Open House on the proposed
changes to Admirals Road to make it
more pedestrian and cycle friendly and pressed
our points about the kinds of bike lanes that
should be installed
A ttended the District of Saanichrsquos open-house on changes to Cook Street and theShelbourne Valley Action Plan Mobility
Focus Group to deliver our position on how bestto make these streets more cycle friendly Thanksto Duncan McLelland for his work
Met with City of Victoria staff to discuss
a number of cycling infrastructure is-
sues including BC Transitrsquos proposals
for bus priority lanes on Douglas Street and
potential adverse effects these could have for
cyclists trafc calming measures installed in
Beacon Hill Park changes to Vancouver Street
new bike lanes on JohnsonBegbiePandora
Streets and cycling infrastructure for the new
Johnston Street Bridge
Talked with CRD Parks planning regarding
xing andor replacing the wooden bridge
decks on the trestles on the Galloping
Goose and Lochside trails
Continue to liaise and support the Oak Bay
Active Transportation Committee in their
efforts to help make that municipality
more bike- and pedestrian-friendly
A nother season of Theme Rides So far
we have held the Rites of Spring Ride
the Scenic Murals Tour and the ldquoMagicalrdquo
Historical Ride
Organized free Recreational Rides almostevery weekend and have recently be-
gun to hold two types of rides - rides
for those wanting to ride at a moderate to fast
pace and rides for those wanting to Smell
the Roses Recent rides have included rides to
Schwartz Bay featuring lunch at the Stonehouse
Pub and an overnight camping trip to the Sooke
Potholes Thanks to Simon Wigzell the principal
organizer of most of these rides
W ere awarded a $10000 Sustainability
Grant by the City of Victoria and will
soon be seeking a contractor to help
us develop a ldquoBikes Mean Businessrdquo program
W e had our booth at 11 locations duringBike To Work Week Thanks to all those
who volunteered including Brenda
Boyd Ryan Mijker Ray Straatsma Forrest Nelson
Janet Besler Michael Fisher Jim Alix Ed Pullman
Olena and Mike Russell
W orked with City of Victoria Emergency
Management to organize a 1-day lsquoTour
de Disasterrsquo held on July 27th Forty
people took part in a 25 km rally that wiggled its
way around the city of Victoria
Congratulations to Bill Lane (rst place) Joanne
Thompson (second place) and Bike Sense
Editor Sara Stallard (third place) And a specialthanks to event organizer Rob Johns of Victoria
Emergency Management Agency
Purchased a Norco Birota cargo bike to re
place the GVCC Whale a large trailer The
new trike is pictured above with GVCC
President Ed Pullman and Director Ryan Mijke
and son Ilya who completed the Tour de
Disaster with it
Continue to manage 32 bike lockers at three
BC Transit hub locations (thanks to ou
new Bike Locker coordinator Ron Fownes)
The bike lockers are only $10 a month and are a
great way to securely store your bike and then
board a bus at a bus exchange gvccbccastore
Many GVCC members helped the CRD
conduct bike counts in May and July
These are helpful in determining where
to target improvements in cycling infrastructure
in the Greater Victoria area Much thanks to those
participants who donated their honorariums to
the GVCC
What Have We Done For You Latelycompiled by Sam Macey
Riders on the Architecturaltour admire the Belfry
Theatre in Fernwood Sq
Photo by S Macey
Victoria City councillor
Ben Isitt and GVCC
president Ed Pullman
shake hands on having
completed the tour
Photos this page by
FPerryman or as noted
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 5
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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I canrsquot think of a better place in this country to live or travel
to for some amazing tourism by bicycle than here
on Vancouver Island The crisp sea breeze the
plethora of destinations the beautiful trails and
quiet back roads all make for an ideal touring
experience As someone whorsquos done a bit of
exploring of the surrounding area by bicycle
I wanted to offer you the reader some tips
destinations and web resources to check out to
hopefully get you going on your rst bike trip
G V C C
P r e s
i d e n t rsquo s
M e s s a ge
Welcome to Travel on Two Wheels
Cycle Therapy
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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First and foremost anyone can do cycle touring All you
need is a bicycle a sturdy luggage rack a pair of pan-
niers and a bungee cord to strap items to the back of
your bike Most people I talk to who have not done
cycle touring marvel at what great shape I must be in to
be able to cycle 100 kms in a day at which point I laugh
and inform them that cycling to work and the odd trip
to the Y are about all the exercise I usually get You donrsquotneed a great bike or to be in great shape to do cycle
touring Just give yourself plenty of time to get where
you are going
For my friends looking to take their rst cycling trip I
always recommend taking the Galloping Goose out to
the Sooke Potholes Campground for a night or two Itrsquos
only 50 km away on a very easy trail Therersquos lots to ex-
plore at the potholes including Leechtown the ghost
town about 7 km north of the Potholes where the Gal -
loping Goose Trail ends Just donrsquot forget to bring an
extra inner tube or two a pump and some tire leversin case you get a at along the rocky trail
For a more challenging trip hop the Mill Bay Ferry
and head up to Lake Cowichan via back roads or take
the Trans Canada Trail up from Shawnigan Lake (and
marvel at the beauty of Kinsol Trestle on your way
there) Alternatively take the Coho over to Port Ange-
les and head over to Port Townsend Be sure to take
the Olympic Discovery Trail between Port Angeles
and Sequim before getting on Highway 101 Take the
ferry to Whidbey Island and up to Anacortes (and over
the stunning Deception Pass) before catching the ferr y
back to SidneyGo to cyclevancouverislandca to check out lots of
things to do and places to visit on bike here on Vancou-
ver Island Finally check out warmshowersorg Itrsquos a free
worldwide hospitality exchange for cyclists Sign up to
get access to thousands of billet listings and offer your
own home up for touring cyclists
If you have some cycle touring stories from in and
around Greater Victoria and the surrounding area
send them to me at presidentgvccbcca and I will
post them on our website for others to check out and
either replicate your awesome experience or hopeful-ly avoid some of the pitfalls you may have encoun-
tered on your two-wheel journey
EDWARD PULLMAN is the GVCCpresident and avid cycle tourist
Downtown Victoria BC seen from Songhees point at
sunset on an August evening Photo by Felicity Perryman
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 7
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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A Salt Spring Island Gander
W
hatrsquos good for the Goose ndash ie cycling the Gallop-ing Goose Trail ndash has got to be good for the Gan-der ndash meaning spinning over the Salt Spring Islandsection of the emerging Salish Sea Regional Trail
Network The Salish Sea Regional Trail Network will ultimate-ly connect the Galloping Goose Lochside Trails Trans-Can-ada Trail Humpback and Cowichan Valley Regional TrailWhether yoursquore an experienced cyclist or newly venturing outSalt Springrsquos bound to be a memorable trip Itrsquos got it all Here
is a primer for your Salt SpringGander so you come prepared
Salt Spring Island has alwaysbeen a great place to visit wheth-er for a day trip to the FarmerrsquosMarket or for a weekend at a lo-cal Bed and Breakfast A groupof committed residents Island
Pathways is working to makethe Island more accessible forcyclists both locals and tourists
Yoursquoll most likely come by ferry Your little sea cruise willcost $200 extra the price of walking on with your bicycle If youhave a BC Ferries Experience card the fee is waived The solebenefit of this purchase is the privilege of parking your bicycleby a bow or stern rail Bicycles strapped to the back of vehiclestaking up deck space go for free Go figure
Chances are good yoursquoll meet a few cyclists on board Cyclingtraffic on Salt Spring sailings has increased approximately 12each of the last five years while motor traffic has declined overthe same period Cheers for you yoursquore pushing the wave Cha
up fellow pedallers find out if theyrsquore seasoned Salt Spring Is-land riders or intrepid newbies The formerwill tell you things worth knowing aboutcycling on island the latter may appreciatehearing some tips yoursquove picked up here
Wander the boat to find a big framedversion of Island Pathways award-win-ning ldquoHeritage Map with Bike RoutesrdquoItrsquos also posted by Rock Salt Restaurantat Fulford and by the Visitorsrsquo Centrein Ganges This map is a must-seefor its touring historic natural his-tory and geologic information For
those who want to read and learnfrom it itrsquos a must-have memen-to You can buy it for $850 atmany island stores or you canorder it from wwwisland-pathwaysca
From this map and theTrails BC map (trailsbccavancouver-island
by Brenda Guiled
Bike shop in Fulford Harbour by P Medved View of the Fulford Valley from Mount Maxwell by ProudlyDonut
Morningside Organic Cafe in Fulford Harbour by Nen222Saltspring fishing boat by NRTphotos
After walking your bike off the
ferry set yourinner clock to
island time
8 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 924
loops-journeyscowichan-salt-spring-180-km)you can plan your routes If yoursquore on the SwartzBay-Fulford Harbour ferry look for Salt SpringldquoShare the Roadrdquo brochures ndash another Island Path-ways initiative Keep one on hand for safety and con-tact information
Salt Springrsquos new Cycling Master Plan calls for a
bikeway along the main spine roads connecting thethree ferry terminals through the Ganges hub butthese are fast busy highways For quieter safer ridesyoursquod best take the peaceful back roads shown on theTrails BC map
After walking your bike off the ferry set your in-ner clock to island time ie donrsquot rush Wait until
the cars and trucks have cleared the boatand roared up the road Yoursquoll
see why you needthose stay-put min-utes when you hitthe pavementhellip be-
cause a lot of pave-ment is lacking on the
shouldersSalt Spring roads
are narrow windingand hilly plus most are in
rough shape from decadeswithout capital upgrades
Yoursquore definitely in the coun-try and on quiet stretches cy-
cling can be bucolic and restful comparedto staying wired for urban hazards
While you wonrsquot likely get doored onSalt Spring even in town on the busiesdays there are challenges aplenty tokeep you alert This includes sharingthe limited road space with drivers
fellow cyclists and deer The dangersand idiocies arenrsquot terribly commonbut they give something for locals
to gripe about Please be appropriately cau-tious and considerate without fail to maximize the safe-
ty and pleasure of your trip and leave a good vibe behind whenyoursquore gone
For amenities and things to do consult Island Pathways mapdo a web search including local media the Gulf Islands Drift-wood and Community Exchange pick up brochures aboard theferries ask around as you sail and when on island and stop at theVisitorsrsquo Centre in Ganges
While cycling on island yoursquoll encounter farm stands studios
to visit hiking possibilities and if yoursquore tuned and ready forthem serendipitous connections bound to make your trip espe-cially charmed in a very Salt Spring way
BRENDA GUILED is chair of Island Pathways a Salt SpringIsland non-profit thatrsquos been working to improve non
motorized transportation on Salt Spring Island for 25 yearsshe spearheads Island Pathways Bicycle Working Group
On the dock at Fulford by H Marsh Saturday farmers market in Ganges by SmallestBones
Ganges harbour by RJ RuppenthalBike shop in Ganges by ReshElectrons
S a l i s h S e
a T r a i l
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 9
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1024
dominate the narrow streets Trucks are permitted only be-
fore 10 am to re-supply the shops but there were parking lotsand bike racks nearby for cars and bikes It took a bit of time to
get accustomed to cycling along with the thousands of othercyclists on the roads and it became even more important to
carefully watch for other cyclists along with pedestrians andmotorized traff ic
There is a lot of new housing being constructed outside
of Utrecht and Oss The Dutch suburbs we saw all had great
cycling amenities We rode on many paved bike paths sepa-rate but alongside the roads for cars and trucks On many ofthe narrow farm roads there are marked
bike lanes on both sides of the road leav-ing only enough space for one car to drivebetween
In Doesburg about 60 km east of Osswe saw hundreds of bikes locked to the bike
racks near the train stations There werealso bike lockers at the stations and they
appeared fully occupied from morning toevening The likely reason Many Dutchpeople have two bikes ndash one to ride from
their residence to the train station and an-other at the other end to ride from there to
their work siteWhile there are lots of bikes and lots of
cycling infrastructure along with commut-er rail and bus services in Holland like
BC most families seem to own a car alongwith one or more bikes and virtually allthe goods available in stores arrive there
by truck Holland has a pretty efficienthighway system but also has traffic jams
(we noticed the equivalent to our ColwoodCrawl in some cities) We also took note o
the consideration paid to cyclists by Dutchtransportation planners A special high-way overpass was constructed for cyclists
to pass over a section of freeway that wasbeing reconstructed near Oss ndash we havenrsquot
noticed that much consideration in BC
Cyclingin Holland
Our first impressions of Hollandwere not of bicycles but of the
modern efficient freeway systemfor cars and trucks But when we arrived
in Gouda bicycles were everywhere andfor good reason Holland is ldquoflat as a Dutchpannekoekrdquo so itrsquos easy to bike and old cit-
ies like Gouda have very narrow roads andlimited places for cars to drive and park
(residents require parking permits for theircars though most seem to own a car) We
saw cyclists of all ages ndash children business-
men and seniors riding Dutch-style bikes ndash high handlebars long wheelbase fullfenders enclosed chains built-in head- andtaillights and rear wheel locks and usually
equipped with huge panniersBike helmets are not mandatory in Hol-
land and only the Dutch sport bicycle rid-ers seem to favour wearing them Small
gas-powered motor scooters are also per-mitted on bike paths In Utrecht (3rd larg-est Dutch city) and Oss a smaller town
the downtowns are quite old so pedestrians
B i k e s i n H o l l a n d b y S h i r a t
s k i
b y N o r a h M
a c e y
Dutch farm roads near Oss Note the 2 bikelanes leaving room for only 1 car
Cyclists of all ages in Oss ndashnote they donrsquot ride single file
The bike in the foreground features an electric
motor on the front wheel ndash the battery is in the
chain guard and easily removed for overnight
charging The bike in the background is
specially made for the Dutch Post Office ndash single
speed but capable of carrying 40 kg of mail
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Cycling on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man is about the size of Saltspring Island but with a much
bigger population (86000) Besides tourism and agriculture thecountry is a tax haven and
most international banksinsurance companies and in-
vestment houses have offices
there Each year for over 100years the Isle of Man Tourist
Trophy or TT motorcycleraces have attracted spec-
tators Run on public roadsthey are very dangerous rac-
es We stayed 8km outsideof Douglas the main cityon the Isle and thought that
renting bicycles would be agreat way to get around during race week But after enjoying such easy
pedaling in Holland cycling on the Isle of Man was no joy and made usmore appreciative of the cycling infrastructure and amenities we have
in Greater VictoriaThere are plenty of cyclists on the Isle of Man such as Mark Cav-
endish the ldquoManx Missilerdquo and winner of 5 stages of this yearrsquos Giro
drsquoItalia The Isle also has lots of public trails that mountain bikers enjoyBut for commuter and recreational cycling other than a paved bike path
along the Promenade tourist area in Douglas there is nothing The roadsare narrow most have no sidewalks and many have hedges on both sides
so it can be unnerving to be pedaling or even walking on them Thereare plenty of hills as we found
when getting to and from ourhotel and of course we hadto adjust to riding on the left
and mounted our strap-onmirrors on our right handle-
bars We found that motoristswere generally courteous to
cyclists on Isle of ManOverall our travels to
Holland and Isle of Man made us appreciate how much better Greater
Victoriarsquos cycling amenities and infrastructure could be (like in Holland)and appreciate that what we have is far better than that in some other
countries like Isle of Man
NORAH MACEY is a GVCC member and part of the ThemeRides organizing committee Photos by Sam Macey
Biking in Europe
My life will never be the same For I havetasted the joy of bike lanes that donrsquot endcycling infrastructure everywhere and
traffic that patiently yields to bikes Yes itrsquos Co-penhagen MY element Getting to Copenhagenwas an adventure so I should start from the be-
ginningNine of us signed up for a 12 day ride from Ber-lin to Copenhagen during June 2013 ldquoRadwegrdquotook us over 700 kms through East Germanyto Denmark Germany has excellent bike pathsranging from hard packed gravel to concretetracks to pavement A few kms were on secondaryroads We rode with the birds through managedforests and on concrete tracks through farmersfields We also rode beside the sea canals andlakes Fragrance of linden trees wild roses andmock orange greeted us often
The ride was challenging with rolling hills andaverage distances of 60+ km Of course we had oneday of fierce head winds with rolling hills and adistance of 60 km to test our endurance
When the path took us to Denmark we cameacross more roads than in Germany But within30 km of Copenhagen those incredible bike lanesbegin Bike lanes are on every street and manyare raised about 6 inches from other lanes Bikeshave their own traffic lights of course In the coreof the city at major intersections bright blue lanesalert vehicles to yield to bikes And they do Mo-torists stop before turning right looking right forbikes Naturally bikes are allowed on subways andtrains and there are ramps to accommodate rath-
er than stairs Truly a cyclists dream Berlin wassimilarly bike friendly although with less desig-nated bike lanes
Anyone who likes to ride bike really ought totry cycling in Copenhagen Or broaden your ex-perience and ride from Berlin
JANET BESLER is a 10-year member of the GVCC andcurrently works with the themed rides committeeNewly retired she has the luxury of cycling more
B i k e s i n B e r l i n v i a F l i c k r c r e at i v e c o m m o n s
The cycle routefrom Berlin toCopenhagen
Marine Drive near Douglas is one of thebetter places to cycle on the Isle as carsare restricted
Racks full of bikes outside Oss train stationin Holland
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 1
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Itrsquos not just the traditional bike vacation orthe stereotype of a grubby loner cheapingout with a tent and a forestry campsite
but weekend riders with expensive bikes anda credit card looking for good food gooddrink and the mileage to earn the calories
Ten years ago I took a trip to the Seattle
Bike Show to promote Vancouver Island as acycling destination It was part of an initiativeenvisioned by Brian Hobson operations man-ager at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel who wasand still is years ahead of the curve
A thousand people flowed through thebooth I had with my marketing friend GeorgeAllen a fellow racer from the early days of thebike boom in the lsquo70s We designed a surveyand found what Brian had already discovered ndash bike holidays involved nice hotels cozy Band Brsquos and a more generous budget thanmost in the tourist industry assumed though
more are gaining that understandingIn the intervening years we produced a
couple of maps and struggling to find theformula to get it back into print itrsquos an ideathat has never gone away but seems like anidea whose time has really come
Event tourism is getting bigger withldquoGran Fondordquo events popping up in com-munities near and far ndash a couple in Victoriawhere hundreds or thousands for riders take
Cycling While that may
metaphor itrsquos
idays are in Y
trend across N
world Here to
Island or a shor
or the America
the steady stre
routes and trails
tracted by the
Victoria and S
the circle bette
La Route Verte Quebec by S Olmsted
Arbutus CoveGuest House
Te perfect overnightbike getaway from Victoria
and surrounding communities
Arbutus Cove is a beautiful waterfront bou-tique guest house located on the GallopingGoose trail 37 kilometers from Victoria onthe Sooke Basin a 3 hour ride
3 private deluxe rooms each with theirown entrances queen beds and full bath-rooms share a huge waterfront deck withhot tub await the cycling visitor
A 15 minute walk takes you to the 17 Mile
Pub for supper and a breakfast is servedbefore your departure
June 15 - Sept 14 $150 ( for 2)Sept 15 - June 14 $125 (for 2)
Reservations
wwwarbutuscoveguesthousecom
London England has aggressively increased cycling rates by
adding bike lanes cycle hire stations and recently committing to a $15 billion
10-year plan to create a complete cycling network in the city The mayor and
his team aim to ldquode-Lycra-fyrdquo cycling and get ldquonormal peoplerdquo on bikes as part
of every day life and the cityrsquos fabric ~The Guardian
Photos London bikeshare bikes ready for hire Shoreditch in use in Soho a
popular sticker commuters headed home and the view from a double deckerof bikes mixing with vehicle traffic in south London June 2013 by F Perryman 98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313712 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1324
e new golfng a little tired as a
e mark Active hol-
nd examples of a
rica and around the
oria and across the
y on the Gulf Islands
ans not to mention
yclists crowding the
ympic Peninsula at-
y of loop tours with
Most everyone likes
out and back ride)
Slickrock Trail Moab Utah by Trailsource
to the roads for day long loops of every roadthey can get local governments to carve offfor them The races out there are part of thatmarket too ndash they bring riders into a com-munity to fill up hotels and order dessertsat every turn They donrsquot just come to enjoythe ride they bring their 5000 calorie a day
appetites with them Do the mathVermontrsquos cycle tourism industry is big-
ger than maple syrup Nobody heard of Moabuntil mountain bikers made it a destinationVelo Quebec has created a powerhouse in-dustry around La Route Verte and createdthousands of jobs along with it The Okana-gan was in a panic when fire destroyed tres-tles along the Kettle Valley rail trail ndash Chamber of Commerce spokes-persons told anybody in themedia who would listen thatthe disaster could cost them
$5 million a year in lossesBack here in Victoria
we who see the world frombehind the handlebars haveknown for a long time whatan asset we have in our trailsnot just the roads and routesof the city and countryside Morethan a couple of million trips a year arerecorded on the Goose and Lochside Many
are of course local commuters but tens of thou-sands will be our visitor market or another sliceof the travel industry the local day traveler Thebakery in Sidney doesnrsquot care if the visitor isfrom Victoria or Virginia They just know thatsomeone on a bike discovered them on a bike
More are on the way The new EampN trail is
disjointed and incomplete but find your way oualong the corridor and you will see commutersand neighbourhood residents have already dis-covered what it has to offer The cycling touristswonrsquot be far behind if they arenrsquot there already
Before the Goose was done I was out explor-ing the emerging trail ndash no pavement no bridg-es no signs but the name had found its way to
New Zealand and some Kiwi on a bike wasstruggling up and down the slopes at
Wilkinson Rd where there is a trestlenow He wasnrsquot the first And moreclearly he was the very thin edge of
the wedge ndash a tsunami of riders iswashing up on our shores and wewould do well to make them feewelcome
JOHN LUTON is Executive Directorof Capital Bike and Walk which provides
consulting services on infrastructureand services for cycling and walking and
coordinates the Vancouver Island Cycle TourismAlliance to promote the Island as a cycling
destination He is a former president of the GVCC
a tsunamiof riders is
washing up onour shores
by JohnLuton
Kettle Valley BC by Spatialmongrel
theybring their
5000 caloriea day appetites with them Do
the math
Andalucia Spain The cities of southern Spain including Seville CordobaMalaga and Granada have taken their rate of cycling from nearly zero to more than double
that of Victoriarsquos Seville in 2006-7 added 120km of separated bike lanes and went from
5000 riders a day to over 72000 for a bike share of 7 ldquoSeville is now a cleaner
greener placeThe cycle lanes make it much easier to feel securerdquo
~ J Sanchez Seville
Photos L to R Sevici Bike share
in Seville (photo flickrcom)
separated bike lanes in Malaga
bike share outside Cordoba
train station tourism by bike -
Roman ruins in Malaga and a
local citizen in Malaga riding
its smooth flat routesPhotos
by F Perryman June 2013Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 13983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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W e in Victoria like to pride our-selves as a cycling destinationcity Indeed many visitors come
to Victoria to sample our cycle-friendli-ness Assets such as the Galloping Gooseand Lochside Trails a mild climate to cy-cle year-round our relative compactnessand our healthy active and sustainablelifestyle have all contributed to a vibrantcycling culture which many visitors haveadmired
Although I am bless-ed to live in a community
where it is fashionable tobike to the store the showor a coffee date as well aswork I have often won-dered if there are similarcities to ours where cy-cling is the thing to doand where people visit for the riding orculture
While reviewing a recent League ofAmerican Bicyclists commuter modeshare report (2010) 2 cities caught myattention Davis California with a 22mode share and Santa Barbara California
with 64 (For the record Greater Victo-ria is 59 the highest in Canada) SinceDavis is known historically as a cyclingcity and Santa Barbara is a popular train-ing ground for cycle racers I decided toexplore these cities for myself last May
Santa Barbara was my first stop Ar-riving by train from Los Angeles I no-ticed at least a dozen bikes passing the
station in my first 15 minuteshere Within hours of my
arrival I had a rental bike from SantaBarbara Bikes-to-Go all set up and wasgiven a tour of the city by Ralph Fer-tig a member of the SantaBarbara Bicycle Coalition(SBBC) While touring thecity I noticed that there is auniform look to many of thebuildings here all designed
in the Spanish adobe styleand fairly low rise (not ex-ceeding 6 stories)
Santa Barbara has some well-devel-oped bicycle facilities The best knownand most popular pathway is the Cabril-lo Boulevard bike path paralleling thebeachfront yielding tremendous viewsOn weekends this path can get busy withwalkers joggers in-line skaters and ofcourse cyclists Most cyclists are thoseon cruiser bikes enjoying a leisurely ride
Santa Barbara Countyhas 206 miles of bike lanes
and designated bike routesWhile some of these routesare well designed and con-venient other streets disap-pointingly have bike laneswhich permit cars to beparked in them during busi-
ness hours Other bike lanes are narrowlydesigned like those on State Street themain thoroughfare
Bike parking can also be an issuewhen parking downtown Most facilitiestend to accommodate cable lock parkingover u-lock parking as it may be more
convenient to carry these type of locksaround Unfortunately cable locks havetheir security shortcomings In additionmany public buildings down-town have the ldquowheel benderrdquokind of rack which not onlyprovides little protection fromtheft but could damage a bicy-clersquos wheels if knocked over For-tunately for commuters SantaBarbara has a Bikestation where
members can access secure bike parking247 as well as access repair facilitiesduring business hours
If there is hope for cy-cling facilities developmenin the future it can befound at the University oCalifornia Santa Barbarain suburban Goleta Sim
ilar to the University inVictoria in enrolment size(22000 students) the cam
pus looks very similar in layout to UVicminus the ring road Touring with UCSBPlanning Officer Steve Conner the cam-pus has rows and rows of bike parkingfor students many specifically designedto accommodate U-locks Bike paths areseparated from pedestrian traff ic and of-ten have roundabouts for traffic calmingAs the campus is 8 miles from Santa Bar-bara many of UCSBrsquos innovations havenot had any influence on Santa Barbararsquos
facilities development though this mayhopefully change with continued advoca-cy efforts from the SBBC
The main attractions for bicyclingvisitors to Santa Barbara are the bikepathways and scenic routes leading ouof town and into places such as Goletaand the Santa Ynez valley Pathways suchas the Coast Route and the Maria Ignacio Creek Route offer a safe and leisure-ly ride to Goleta Beach and the UCSBcampus The roads leading to Solvangand the Santa Ynez valley attract seriousroad riders as well as those who wish to
explore the vineyards of thatarea or view the
A TALE OFTWO CITIES
SANTA BARBARA
amp DAVIS CALIFORNIA
byDarrenMarr
PART 1 ndashSANTA BARBARA
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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scenes from the movie Sideways Ofcourse most visitors to the city renta bike or use a loaner from their hoteland ride along the Cabrillo Boulevardbike path
As for in-town attractions MissionSanta Barbara is a must if you are in-terested in the colonial history of thearea and the role of Catholic mission-aries in the development of California
society The Santa Barbara NaturalHistory Museum less than 1 km near-by has excellent exhibits on the landand marine wildlife plus indigenoussettlement of the area Though thereare bike friendly streets leading up tothe area be cautioned that the roadsleading there are hilly
Closer to downtown notable placesof interest include the Courthouse withits muraled courtrooms and bell tower
and the SantaBarbara Mu-seum of Art
both on StateStreet Closerto the beach-front you canfind the San-
ta Barbara Zoo Stearns Wharf withits shops and restaurants and ChasePalm Park with its turn of the centurycarousel If you are fortunate to be intown Tuesdays or Saturdays the San-ta Barbara Farmers Market has someof the finest organic produce fromaround Southern California
Overall Santa Barbara is a very
bikeable city with the Mediterraneanclimate and the compactness of the citycontributing to a vibrant cycling envi-ronment Thousands of people crowdedCabrillo Boulevard in mid-May to watchracers in the Amgen Tour De Californiapass through their community perhapsseeing a future Tour De France cham-pion in the making During the cityrsquosannual CycleMAYnia festival themedrides educational workshops and a bi-cycle fashion show dot the May calen-dar And with the cityrsquos bent on sustain-ability one is bound to find scores of
bicycles at the farmers marketsand at Earth Day celebrations
Makes you wonder if thecity had a few more mod-ern bicycle facilities justhow much more of a bi-cycle friendly communitySanta Barbara could po-tentially be
IF YOU GO
Please refer toRalph Fertigrsquosbicycle tour-ism websitebike-santabar-baraorg for in-formation ontours maps bi-cycle-friendly ac-commodation and bike rentals and shopsI found it to be an excellent resource on allthings cycling in Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalitionis located at 506 E Haley Street andhouses Bici Centro the non-profit bicy-cle repair and restoration shop operatedby the SBBC Programs run from theshop help support youth empowermentand cycling education outreach Web-site bicicentroorg
Did you know there is a GVCC inSanta Barbara The Goleta Valley Cy-cling Club (GVCC) holds recreationalrides around the Santa Barbara area 3times a week Check out their websitegoletabikeorg
Go by train Amtrakrsquos Pacific Sur-fliner route arrives from Los Angeles 5times daily There are bike racks on thetrain but they must be reserved in ad-vance You can also save 20 off yourfare by booking in advance Check outsantabarbaracarfreeorg
Thanks to Ralph Steve Kent Ep-person of Traffic Solutions and EdFrance SBBC Executive Director for
filling me in on the cycling advocacyscene in Santa Barbara
Next issue Part II DavisCalifornia
DARREN MARR is a past presidentof the GVCC and likes to explore
different cities by bike
Photos by D Marr
768 Yates Street Victoria downstairs from Lylersquos Pla
Cenote Restaurant and Loun
CyclistfriendlyGVCCmembersget 10off food
Just off the Goose thSelk Trest
Selkirk Station106-80 Regatta Landing l 250-383-1466
wwwselkirkstationcom
Sales - Service - Rentals - Tours
Elite Electric Bikes
Courtesy Bikes
wwwvictoriavelotechca
2002 Fernwood Road
Victoria BC V8T 2Y9
2509205520
infovictoriavelotechca
Vi
c
t
o
r
i
a
Ve
l
o
te
c
hPRO-SHOP
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 15
386-BIKE (24
1725 Quadra Street Victoria BC V8W 2Lwwwnorthparkbikeshopcom
Sales amp Repairs
10 OFFfor GVCC memb
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1624
W ork continues on constructing the EampN Rail Trail
along the EampN rail line from Victoria to LangfordThe trail is planned to eventually join with the future
Trans Canada Trail running north up Vancouver Island So faronly a few sections are officially open Given that trail construc-tion began in 2010 and is projected to take sev-eral more years to be fully completed now is agood time to consider the challenges in build-ing the Rail Trail
In January 2013 Scansa Construction wasawarded a $196 million contract by CRD for thesections between Colville and Admirals Roadand Maplebank Road (just east of the SongheesNation reserve) and between Hallowell Road
and Craigflower Road by the Four Mile Pub(just northwest of the Songhees reserve)Building the trail is much more than sim-
ply bulldozing trees and brush out of the wayand laying down a layer of asphalt Thereneeds to be a solid roadbed underneath the asphalt in order tohave a smooth level surface that is stable There also needs tobe a drainage system so that rain and surface water will not
wash out the trailIn some places there were large rock outcroppings
that needed to be removed by blasting Howeverthere are houses very close to ndash and in some
cases built on ndash these rock outcroppings so
the blasting had to be carefully controlled to prevent damage to
nearby buildings As well the trail needs to be relatively flatand this has meant bringing in crushed rock in some places tofill in the dips and gullies
In addition to constructing the trail Southern Vancouver Island Rail is installing signals at level rail crossings along the rail line including Intervale andHutchinson Roads in Esquimalt
These sections of the EampN Rail Trail on eitherside of the Songhees Nation reserve are expected tobe open this fall And while these may be helpful tosome bike commuters particularly those headingtoward CFB Esquimalt and the expanding Seaspanshipyards next door to CFB Esquimalt more work
remains to be doneThe short section between Wilson Street andEsquimalt Road in Vic West is still to be tackledalong with constructing a safe crossing for raitrail users at Esquimalt Road near Robert Street
Constructing the trail from the Old Island Highway to wesof Helmcken Road has not yet been scheduled Two bridges paralleling railway trestles (at the Old Island Highway
near the 4 Mile Pub and Helmcken Road in View Royal) wereconstructed to allow for the trail last year Construction of thelatter section of the rail trail would provide a level route towardthe West Shore Until this section of the trail is constructed cyclists wanting to use the new section of the trail that should open
EampN Rail ConstructionUpdate by Sam Macey
EampN Rail Trailsections shouldprovide manycommuters a
choice to use their
bikes rather thantheir cars
16 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1724
this summer will be faced with going up and over 4 Mile Hill
The Trail bypasses the Songhees Nation Reserve near Esqui-malt so cyclists will travel alongside Admirals Road betweenHallowell and Maplebank Roads to rejoin the Rail Trail This isa rather hilly detour from the level rail line
The Admirals RoadColville intersection was upgraded sev-eral years ago but little thought was given to adequately provid-ing for pedestrian and bike crossings
While lots of work remains to be done to fully complete theEampN Trail from east to west completion of these new sections
will be a change for the better Given all the residential develop
ment taking place on the Westshore these EampN Rail Trail sections should provide many commuters a choice to use their bikerather than their cars and thus avoid being stuck in the growingtraffic congestion that now sees both Old Island Highway andTrans Canada Highway traffic at a near standstill during morning and afternoon commutes
SAM MACEY is a GVCC Director anTheme Rides Committee leader
All photos by Sam Macey
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Cyclists and pedestrians crossing Admirals
Road at Colville will be a problem
2 Early work on the trail near Four Mile Hill
and Craigflower showing one of the drainage
problems
3 Rail Crossing control box by Hutchinson road
4 New drainage by trail
5 Removal of rock outcroppings
6 New paving new Hallowell The final result The
new trail has been built up and leveled proper
drainage lines were installed beneath the trail
surface
7 Mural on the navy drydock
8 New rock wall
Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 17983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1824
This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
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Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
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passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
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LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Ride Donrsquot HideOn Sunday June 23rd over 120 cyclists took
part in the inauguralRide Donrsquot Hide eventin Victoria The ridestarted in 2011 whenMichael Schatter cy-cled 40000 km aroundthe world to raiseawareness of mentalhealth and its importance Sincethen other communities have
joined in and 2013 marked thefirst time in Victoria
Volunteers from across Vic-toria including many from theGVCC helped ensure that the
ride was a success and mediacoverage was extensive andpositive Riders enjoyed a sce-nic ride along Dallas Road fromOgden Pier where the event wasco-located with MECrsquos BikeF-est Inspiring speakers includedlocal author Michelle Mulderand Adam Kreek Olympic row-er GVCC Treasurer MichaelFisher was volunteer coordina-tor to support his daughter whois bi-polar
The statistics on mentalhealth issues are staggering
as it is expected tha15 of women wil
require mental healthassistance duringtheir life and the statistics for men aresimilar although menare frequently reluctant to seek help Theride was run in 12 oth-
er communities in BC to raisemoney and more importantlyawareness about mental healthissues in Canada It is expected to be an annual event withgrowing participation Thiyearrsquos event in Vancouver in
volved more than 1000 cyclistsThe GVCC helped supporthe event through the tireleswork of volunteers Cycling is awonderful way to enjoy exercisein your daily life and this mayreduce the impact of mentahealth issues but do make useof medical psychiatric and psychological support
byMICHAEL FISHER
Canadian Menta
Health Association
victoriacmhabcca
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETING
will take place
WED OCT16 TH 2013 AT 7 PM
Selkirk Montessori School2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Guest Speaker
ERIN OrsquoMELINNExecutive Director of HUBformerly the Vancouver AreaCycling Coalition
Presentation
BIKE FRIENDLY BUSINESSPROGRAM
Board of Directors
ELECTIONS
TO VOTE You must be a member in good standingprior to September 16th 2013
4 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
NEW NAME SAME LOCATION
1419 BROAD STREET VICTORIA BCCOME SEE WHAT WERE UP TO
copy Ride Donrsquot Hide
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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The Greater Victoria Cycling Coalitionand its nearly 400 members believe inour vision of getting more people cyclingmore places more often As yoursquoll see fromthe list below wersquove been busy lately
A ttended the Township of Esquimaltrsquos
recent Open House on the proposed
changes to Admirals Road to make it
more pedestrian and cycle friendly and pressed
our points about the kinds of bike lanes that
should be installed
A ttended the District of Saanichrsquos open-house on changes to Cook Street and theShelbourne Valley Action Plan Mobility
Focus Group to deliver our position on how bestto make these streets more cycle friendly Thanksto Duncan McLelland for his work
Met with City of Victoria staff to discuss
a number of cycling infrastructure is-
sues including BC Transitrsquos proposals
for bus priority lanes on Douglas Street and
potential adverse effects these could have for
cyclists trafc calming measures installed in
Beacon Hill Park changes to Vancouver Street
new bike lanes on JohnsonBegbiePandora
Streets and cycling infrastructure for the new
Johnston Street Bridge
Talked with CRD Parks planning regarding
xing andor replacing the wooden bridge
decks on the trestles on the Galloping
Goose and Lochside trails
Continue to liaise and support the Oak Bay
Active Transportation Committee in their
efforts to help make that municipality
more bike- and pedestrian-friendly
A nother season of Theme Rides So far
we have held the Rites of Spring Ride
the Scenic Murals Tour and the ldquoMagicalrdquo
Historical Ride
Organized free Recreational Rides almostevery weekend and have recently be-
gun to hold two types of rides - rides
for those wanting to ride at a moderate to fast
pace and rides for those wanting to Smell
the Roses Recent rides have included rides to
Schwartz Bay featuring lunch at the Stonehouse
Pub and an overnight camping trip to the Sooke
Potholes Thanks to Simon Wigzell the principal
organizer of most of these rides
W ere awarded a $10000 Sustainability
Grant by the City of Victoria and will
soon be seeking a contractor to help
us develop a ldquoBikes Mean Businessrdquo program
W e had our booth at 11 locations duringBike To Work Week Thanks to all those
who volunteered including Brenda
Boyd Ryan Mijker Ray Straatsma Forrest Nelson
Janet Besler Michael Fisher Jim Alix Ed Pullman
Olena and Mike Russell
W orked with City of Victoria Emergency
Management to organize a 1-day lsquoTour
de Disasterrsquo held on July 27th Forty
people took part in a 25 km rally that wiggled its
way around the city of Victoria
Congratulations to Bill Lane (rst place) Joanne
Thompson (second place) and Bike Sense
Editor Sara Stallard (third place) And a specialthanks to event organizer Rob Johns of Victoria
Emergency Management Agency
Purchased a Norco Birota cargo bike to re
place the GVCC Whale a large trailer The
new trike is pictured above with GVCC
President Ed Pullman and Director Ryan Mijke
and son Ilya who completed the Tour de
Disaster with it
Continue to manage 32 bike lockers at three
BC Transit hub locations (thanks to ou
new Bike Locker coordinator Ron Fownes)
The bike lockers are only $10 a month and are a
great way to securely store your bike and then
board a bus at a bus exchange gvccbccastore
Many GVCC members helped the CRD
conduct bike counts in May and July
These are helpful in determining where
to target improvements in cycling infrastructure
in the Greater Victoria area Much thanks to those
participants who donated their honorariums to
the GVCC
What Have We Done For You Latelycompiled by Sam Macey
Riders on the Architecturaltour admire the Belfry
Theatre in Fernwood Sq
Photo by S Macey
Victoria City councillor
Ben Isitt and GVCC
president Ed Pullman
shake hands on having
completed the tour
Photos this page by
FPerryman or as noted
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 5
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 624
I canrsquot think of a better place in this country to live or travel
to for some amazing tourism by bicycle than here
on Vancouver Island The crisp sea breeze the
plethora of destinations the beautiful trails and
quiet back roads all make for an ideal touring
experience As someone whorsquos done a bit of
exploring of the surrounding area by bicycle
I wanted to offer you the reader some tips
destinations and web resources to check out to
hopefully get you going on your rst bike trip
G V C C
P r e s
i d e n t rsquo s
M e s s a ge
Welcome to Travel on Two Wheels
Cycle Therapy
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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First and foremost anyone can do cycle touring All you
need is a bicycle a sturdy luggage rack a pair of pan-
niers and a bungee cord to strap items to the back of
your bike Most people I talk to who have not done
cycle touring marvel at what great shape I must be in to
be able to cycle 100 kms in a day at which point I laugh
and inform them that cycling to work and the odd trip
to the Y are about all the exercise I usually get You donrsquotneed a great bike or to be in great shape to do cycle
touring Just give yourself plenty of time to get where
you are going
For my friends looking to take their rst cycling trip I
always recommend taking the Galloping Goose out to
the Sooke Potholes Campground for a night or two Itrsquos
only 50 km away on a very easy trail Therersquos lots to ex-
plore at the potholes including Leechtown the ghost
town about 7 km north of the Potholes where the Gal -
loping Goose Trail ends Just donrsquot forget to bring an
extra inner tube or two a pump and some tire leversin case you get a at along the rocky trail
For a more challenging trip hop the Mill Bay Ferry
and head up to Lake Cowichan via back roads or take
the Trans Canada Trail up from Shawnigan Lake (and
marvel at the beauty of Kinsol Trestle on your way
there) Alternatively take the Coho over to Port Ange-
les and head over to Port Townsend Be sure to take
the Olympic Discovery Trail between Port Angeles
and Sequim before getting on Highway 101 Take the
ferry to Whidbey Island and up to Anacortes (and over
the stunning Deception Pass) before catching the ferr y
back to SidneyGo to cyclevancouverislandca to check out lots of
things to do and places to visit on bike here on Vancou-
ver Island Finally check out warmshowersorg Itrsquos a free
worldwide hospitality exchange for cyclists Sign up to
get access to thousands of billet listings and offer your
own home up for touring cyclists
If you have some cycle touring stories from in and
around Greater Victoria and the surrounding area
send them to me at presidentgvccbcca and I will
post them on our website for others to check out and
either replicate your awesome experience or hopeful-ly avoid some of the pitfalls you may have encoun-
tered on your two-wheel journey
EDWARD PULLMAN is the GVCCpresident and avid cycle tourist
Downtown Victoria BC seen from Songhees point at
sunset on an August evening Photo by Felicity Perryman
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 7
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 824
A Salt Spring Island Gander
W
hatrsquos good for the Goose ndash ie cycling the Gallop-ing Goose Trail ndash has got to be good for the Gan-der ndash meaning spinning over the Salt Spring Islandsection of the emerging Salish Sea Regional Trail
Network The Salish Sea Regional Trail Network will ultimate-ly connect the Galloping Goose Lochside Trails Trans-Can-ada Trail Humpback and Cowichan Valley Regional TrailWhether yoursquore an experienced cyclist or newly venturing outSalt Springrsquos bound to be a memorable trip Itrsquos got it all Here
is a primer for your Salt SpringGander so you come prepared
Salt Spring Island has alwaysbeen a great place to visit wheth-er for a day trip to the FarmerrsquosMarket or for a weekend at a lo-cal Bed and Breakfast A groupof committed residents Island
Pathways is working to makethe Island more accessible forcyclists both locals and tourists
Yoursquoll most likely come by ferry Your little sea cruise willcost $200 extra the price of walking on with your bicycle If youhave a BC Ferries Experience card the fee is waived The solebenefit of this purchase is the privilege of parking your bicycleby a bow or stern rail Bicycles strapped to the back of vehiclestaking up deck space go for free Go figure
Chances are good yoursquoll meet a few cyclists on board Cyclingtraffic on Salt Spring sailings has increased approximately 12each of the last five years while motor traffic has declined overthe same period Cheers for you yoursquore pushing the wave Cha
up fellow pedallers find out if theyrsquore seasoned Salt Spring Is-land riders or intrepid newbies The formerwill tell you things worth knowing aboutcycling on island the latter may appreciatehearing some tips yoursquove picked up here
Wander the boat to find a big framedversion of Island Pathways award-win-ning ldquoHeritage Map with Bike RoutesrdquoItrsquos also posted by Rock Salt Restaurantat Fulford and by the Visitorsrsquo Centrein Ganges This map is a must-seefor its touring historic natural his-tory and geologic information For
those who want to read and learnfrom it itrsquos a must-have memen-to You can buy it for $850 atmany island stores or you canorder it from wwwisland-pathwaysca
From this map and theTrails BC map (trailsbccavancouver-island
by Brenda Guiled
Bike shop in Fulford Harbour by P Medved View of the Fulford Valley from Mount Maxwell by ProudlyDonut
Morningside Organic Cafe in Fulford Harbour by Nen222Saltspring fishing boat by NRTphotos
After walking your bike off the
ferry set yourinner clock to
island time
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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loops-journeyscowichan-salt-spring-180-km)you can plan your routes If yoursquore on the SwartzBay-Fulford Harbour ferry look for Salt SpringldquoShare the Roadrdquo brochures ndash another Island Path-ways initiative Keep one on hand for safety and con-tact information
Salt Springrsquos new Cycling Master Plan calls for a
bikeway along the main spine roads connecting thethree ferry terminals through the Ganges hub butthese are fast busy highways For quieter safer ridesyoursquod best take the peaceful back roads shown on theTrails BC map
After walking your bike off the ferry set your in-ner clock to island time ie donrsquot rush Wait until
the cars and trucks have cleared the boatand roared up the road Yoursquoll
see why you needthose stay-put min-utes when you hitthe pavementhellip be-
cause a lot of pave-ment is lacking on the
shouldersSalt Spring roads
are narrow windingand hilly plus most are in
rough shape from decadeswithout capital upgrades
Yoursquore definitely in the coun-try and on quiet stretches cy-
cling can be bucolic and restful comparedto staying wired for urban hazards
While you wonrsquot likely get doored onSalt Spring even in town on the busiesdays there are challenges aplenty tokeep you alert This includes sharingthe limited road space with drivers
fellow cyclists and deer The dangersand idiocies arenrsquot terribly commonbut they give something for locals
to gripe about Please be appropriately cau-tious and considerate without fail to maximize the safe-
ty and pleasure of your trip and leave a good vibe behind whenyoursquore gone
For amenities and things to do consult Island Pathways mapdo a web search including local media the Gulf Islands Drift-wood and Community Exchange pick up brochures aboard theferries ask around as you sail and when on island and stop at theVisitorsrsquo Centre in Ganges
While cycling on island yoursquoll encounter farm stands studios
to visit hiking possibilities and if yoursquore tuned and ready forthem serendipitous connections bound to make your trip espe-cially charmed in a very Salt Spring way
BRENDA GUILED is chair of Island Pathways a Salt SpringIsland non-profit thatrsquos been working to improve non
motorized transportation on Salt Spring Island for 25 yearsshe spearheads Island Pathways Bicycle Working Group
On the dock at Fulford by H Marsh Saturday farmers market in Ganges by SmallestBones
Ganges harbour by RJ RuppenthalBike shop in Ganges by ReshElectrons
S a l i s h S e
a T r a i l
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dominate the narrow streets Trucks are permitted only be-
fore 10 am to re-supply the shops but there were parking lotsand bike racks nearby for cars and bikes It took a bit of time to
get accustomed to cycling along with the thousands of othercyclists on the roads and it became even more important to
carefully watch for other cyclists along with pedestrians andmotorized traff ic
There is a lot of new housing being constructed outside
of Utrecht and Oss The Dutch suburbs we saw all had great
cycling amenities We rode on many paved bike paths sepa-rate but alongside the roads for cars and trucks On many ofthe narrow farm roads there are marked
bike lanes on both sides of the road leav-ing only enough space for one car to drivebetween
In Doesburg about 60 km east of Osswe saw hundreds of bikes locked to the bike
racks near the train stations There werealso bike lockers at the stations and they
appeared fully occupied from morning toevening The likely reason Many Dutchpeople have two bikes ndash one to ride from
their residence to the train station and an-other at the other end to ride from there to
their work siteWhile there are lots of bikes and lots of
cycling infrastructure along with commut-er rail and bus services in Holland like
BC most families seem to own a car alongwith one or more bikes and virtually allthe goods available in stores arrive there
by truck Holland has a pretty efficienthighway system but also has traffic jams
(we noticed the equivalent to our ColwoodCrawl in some cities) We also took note o
the consideration paid to cyclists by Dutchtransportation planners A special high-way overpass was constructed for cyclists
to pass over a section of freeway that wasbeing reconstructed near Oss ndash we havenrsquot
noticed that much consideration in BC
Cyclingin Holland
Our first impressions of Hollandwere not of bicycles but of the
modern efficient freeway systemfor cars and trucks But when we arrived
in Gouda bicycles were everywhere andfor good reason Holland is ldquoflat as a Dutchpannekoekrdquo so itrsquos easy to bike and old cit-
ies like Gouda have very narrow roads andlimited places for cars to drive and park
(residents require parking permits for theircars though most seem to own a car) We
saw cyclists of all ages ndash children business-
men and seniors riding Dutch-style bikes ndash high handlebars long wheelbase fullfenders enclosed chains built-in head- andtaillights and rear wheel locks and usually
equipped with huge panniersBike helmets are not mandatory in Hol-
land and only the Dutch sport bicycle rid-ers seem to favour wearing them Small
gas-powered motor scooters are also per-mitted on bike paths In Utrecht (3rd larg-est Dutch city) and Oss a smaller town
the downtowns are quite old so pedestrians
B i k e s i n H o l l a n d b y S h i r a t
s k i
b y N o r a h M
a c e y
Dutch farm roads near Oss Note the 2 bikelanes leaving room for only 1 car
Cyclists of all ages in Oss ndashnote they donrsquot ride single file
The bike in the foreground features an electric
motor on the front wheel ndash the battery is in the
chain guard and easily removed for overnight
charging The bike in the background is
specially made for the Dutch Post Office ndash single
speed but capable of carrying 40 kg of mail
10 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Cycling on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man is about the size of Saltspring Island but with a much
bigger population (86000) Besides tourism and agriculture thecountry is a tax haven and
most international banksinsurance companies and in-
vestment houses have offices
there Each year for over 100years the Isle of Man Tourist
Trophy or TT motorcycleraces have attracted spec-
tators Run on public roadsthey are very dangerous rac-
es We stayed 8km outsideof Douglas the main cityon the Isle and thought that
renting bicycles would be agreat way to get around during race week But after enjoying such easy
pedaling in Holland cycling on the Isle of Man was no joy and made usmore appreciative of the cycling infrastructure and amenities we have
in Greater VictoriaThere are plenty of cyclists on the Isle of Man such as Mark Cav-
endish the ldquoManx Missilerdquo and winner of 5 stages of this yearrsquos Giro
drsquoItalia The Isle also has lots of public trails that mountain bikers enjoyBut for commuter and recreational cycling other than a paved bike path
along the Promenade tourist area in Douglas there is nothing The roadsare narrow most have no sidewalks and many have hedges on both sides
so it can be unnerving to be pedaling or even walking on them Thereare plenty of hills as we found
when getting to and from ourhotel and of course we hadto adjust to riding on the left
and mounted our strap-onmirrors on our right handle-
bars We found that motoristswere generally courteous to
cyclists on Isle of ManOverall our travels to
Holland and Isle of Man made us appreciate how much better Greater
Victoriarsquos cycling amenities and infrastructure could be (like in Holland)and appreciate that what we have is far better than that in some other
countries like Isle of Man
NORAH MACEY is a GVCC member and part of the ThemeRides organizing committee Photos by Sam Macey
Biking in Europe
My life will never be the same For I havetasted the joy of bike lanes that donrsquot endcycling infrastructure everywhere and
traffic that patiently yields to bikes Yes itrsquos Co-penhagen MY element Getting to Copenhagenwas an adventure so I should start from the be-
ginningNine of us signed up for a 12 day ride from Ber-lin to Copenhagen during June 2013 ldquoRadwegrdquotook us over 700 kms through East Germanyto Denmark Germany has excellent bike pathsranging from hard packed gravel to concretetracks to pavement A few kms were on secondaryroads We rode with the birds through managedforests and on concrete tracks through farmersfields We also rode beside the sea canals andlakes Fragrance of linden trees wild roses andmock orange greeted us often
The ride was challenging with rolling hills andaverage distances of 60+ km Of course we had oneday of fierce head winds with rolling hills and adistance of 60 km to test our endurance
When the path took us to Denmark we cameacross more roads than in Germany But within30 km of Copenhagen those incredible bike lanesbegin Bike lanes are on every street and manyare raised about 6 inches from other lanes Bikeshave their own traffic lights of course In the coreof the city at major intersections bright blue lanesalert vehicles to yield to bikes And they do Mo-torists stop before turning right looking right forbikes Naturally bikes are allowed on subways andtrains and there are ramps to accommodate rath-
er than stairs Truly a cyclists dream Berlin wassimilarly bike friendly although with less desig-nated bike lanes
Anyone who likes to ride bike really ought totry cycling in Copenhagen Or broaden your ex-perience and ride from Berlin
JANET BESLER is a 10-year member of the GVCC andcurrently works with the themed rides committeeNewly retired she has the luxury of cycling more
B i k e s i n B e r l i n v i a F l i c k r c r e at i v e c o m m o n s
The cycle routefrom Berlin toCopenhagen
Marine Drive near Douglas is one of thebetter places to cycle on the Isle as carsare restricted
Racks full of bikes outside Oss train stationin Holland
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Itrsquos not just the traditional bike vacation orthe stereotype of a grubby loner cheapingout with a tent and a forestry campsite
but weekend riders with expensive bikes anda credit card looking for good food gooddrink and the mileage to earn the calories
Ten years ago I took a trip to the Seattle
Bike Show to promote Vancouver Island as acycling destination It was part of an initiativeenvisioned by Brian Hobson operations man-ager at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel who wasand still is years ahead of the curve
A thousand people flowed through thebooth I had with my marketing friend GeorgeAllen a fellow racer from the early days of thebike boom in the lsquo70s We designed a surveyand found what Brian had already discovered ndash bike holidays involved nice hotels cozy Band Brsquos and a more generous budget thanmost in the tourist industry assumed though
more are gaining that understandingIn the intervening years we produced a
couple of maps and struggling to find theformula to get it back into print itrsquos an ideathat has never gone away but seems like anidea whose time has really come
Event tourism is getting bigger withldquoGran Fondordquo events popping up in com-munities near and far ndash a couple in Victoriawhere hundreds or thousands for riders take
Cycling While that may
metaphor itrsquos
idays are in Y
trend across N
world Here to
Island or a shor
or the America
the steady stre
routes and trails
tracted by the
Victoria and S
the circle bette
La Route Verte Quebec by S Olmsted
Arbutus CoveGuest House
Te perfect overnightbike getaway from Victoria
and surrounding communities
Arbutus Cove is a beautiful waterfront bou-tique guest house located on the GallopingGoose trail 37 kilometers from Victoria onthe Sooke Basin a 3 hour ride
3 private deluxe rooms each with theirown entrances queen beds and full bath-rooms share a huge waterfront deck withhot tub await the cycling visitor
A 15 minute walk takes you to the 17 Mile
Pub for supper and a breakfast is servedbefore your departure
June 15 - Sept 14 $150 ( for 2)Sept 15 - June 14 $125 (for 2)
Reservations
wwwarbutuscoveguesthousecom
London England has aggressively increased cycling rates by
adding bike lanes cycle hire stations and recently committing to a $15 billion
10-year plan to create a complete cycling network in the city The mayor and
his team aim to ldquode-Lycra-fyrdquo cycling and get ldquonormal peoplerdquo on bikes as part
of every day life and the cityrsquos fabric ~The Guardian
Photos London bikeshare bikes ready for hire Shoreditch in use in Soho a
popular sticker commuters headed home and the view from a double deckerof bikes mixing with vehicle traffic in south London June 2013 by F Perryman 98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313712 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1324
e new golfng a little tired as a
e mark Active hol-
nd examples of a
rica and around the
oria and across the
y on the Gulf Islands
ans not to mention
yclists crowding the
ympic Peninsula at-
y of loop tours with
Most everyone likes
out and back ride)
Slickrock Trail Moab Utah by Trailsource
to the roads for day long loops of every roadthey can get local governments to carve offfor them The races out there are part of thatmarket too ndash they bring riders into a com-munity to fill up hotels and order dessertsat every turn They donrsquot just come to enjoythe ride they bring their 5000 calorie a day
appetites with them Do the mathVermontrsquos cycle tourism industry is big-
ger than maple syrup Nobody heard of Moabuntil mountain bikers made it a destinationVelo Quebec has created a powerhouse in-dustry around La Route Verte and createdthousands of jobs along with it The Okana-gan was in a panic when fire destroyed tres-tles along the Kettle Valley rail trail ndash Chamber of Commerce spokes-persons told anybody in themedia who would listen thatthe disaster could cost them
$5 million a year in lossesBack here in Victoria
we who see the world frombehind the handlebars haveknown for a long time whatan asset we have in our trailsnot just the roads and routesof the city and countryside Morethan a couple of million trips a year arerecorded on the Goose and Lochside Many
are of course local commuters but tens of thou-sands will be our visitor market or another sliceof the travel industry the local day traveler Thebakery in Sidney doesnrsquot care if the visitor isfrom Victoria or Virginia They just know thatsomeone on a bike discovered them on a bike
More are on the way The new EampN trail is
disjointed and incomplete but find your way oualong the corridor and you will see commutersand neighbourhood residents have already dis-covered what it has to offer The cycling touristswonrsquot be far behind if they arenrsquot there already
Before the Goose was done I was out explor-ing the emerging trail ndash no pavement no bridg-es no signs but the name had found its way to
New Zealand and some Kiwi on a bike wasstruggling up and down the slopes at
Wilkinson Rd where there is a trestlenow He wasnrsquot the first And moreclearly he was the very thin edge of
the wedge ndash a tsunami of riders iswashing up on our shores and wewould do well to make them feewelcome
JOHN LUTON is Executive Directorof Capital Bike and Walk which provides
consulting services on infrastructureand services for cycling and walking and
coordinates the Vancouver Island Cycle TourismAlliance to promote the Island as a cycling
destination He is a former president of the GVCC
a tsunamiof riders is
washing up onour shores
by JohnLuton
Kettle Valley BC by Spatialmongrel
theybring their
5000 caloriea day appetites with them Do
the math
Andalucia Spain The cities of southern Spain including Seville CordobaMalaga and Granada have taken their rate of cycling from nearly zero to more than double
that of Victoriarsquos Seville in 2006-7 added 120km of separated bike lanes and went from
5000 riders a day to over 72000 for a bike share of 7 ldquoSeville is now a cleaner
greener placeThe cycle lanes make it much easier to feel securerdquo
~ J Sanchez Seville
Photos L to R Sevici Bike share
in Seville (photo flickrcom)
separated bike lanes in Malaga
bike share outside Cordoba
train station tourism by bike -
Roman ruins in Malaga and a
local citizen in Malaga riding
its smooth flat routesPhotos
by F Perryman June 2013Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 13983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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W e in Victoria like to pride our-selves as a cycling destinationcity Indeed many visitors come
to Victoria to sample our cycle-friendli-ness Assets such as the Galloping Gooseand Lochside Trails a mild climate to cy-cle year-round our relative compactnessand our healthy active and sustainablelifestyle have all contributed to a vibrantcycling culture which many visitors haveadmired
Although I am bless-ed to live in a community
where it is fashionable tobike to the store the showor a coffee date as well aswork I have often won-dered if there are similarcities to ours where cy-cling is the thing to doand where people visit for the riding orculture
While reviewing a recent League ofAmerican Bicyclists commuter modeshare report (2010) 2 cities caught myattention Davis California with a 22mode share and Santa Barbara California
with 64 (For the record Greater Victo-ria is 59 the highest in Canada) SinceDavis is known historically as a cyclingcity and Santa Barbara is a popular train-ing ground for cycle racers I decided toexplore these cities for myself last May
Santa Barbara was my first stop Ar-riving by train from Los Angeles I no-ticed at least a dozen bikes passing the
station in my first 15 minuteshere Within hours of my
arrival I had a rental bike from SantaBarbara Bikes-to-Go all set up and wasgiven a tour of the city by Ralph Fer-tig a member of the SantaBarbara Bicycle Coalition(SBBC) While touring thecity I noticed that there is auniform look to many of thebuildings here all designed
in the Spanish adobe styleand fairly low rise (not ex-ceeding 6 stories)
Santa Barbara has some well-devel-oped bicycle facilities The best knownand most popular pathway is the Cabril-lo Boulevard bike path paralleling thebeachfront yielding tremendous viewsOn weekends this path can get busy withwalkers joggers in-line skaters and ofcourse cyclists Most cyclists are thoseon cruiser bikes enjoying a leisurely ride
Santa Barbara Countyhas 206 miles of bike lanes
and designated bike routesWhile some of these routesare well designed and con-venient other streets disap-pointingly have bike laneswhich permit cars to beparked in them during busi-
ness hours Other bike lanes are narrowlydesigned like those on State Street themain thoroughfare
Bike parking can also be an issuewhen parking downtown Most facilitiestend to accommodate cable lock parkingover u-lock parking as it may be more
convenient to carry these type of locksaround Unfortunately cable locks havetheir security shortcomings In additionmany public buildings down-town have the ldquowheel benderrdquokind of rack which not onlyprovides little protection fromtheft but could damage a bicy-clersquos wheels if knocked over For-tunately for commuters SantaBarbara has a Bikestation where
members can access secure bike parking247 as well as access repair facilitiesduring business hours
If there is hope for cy-cling facilities developmenin the future it can befound at the University oCalifornia Santa Barbarain suburban Goleta Sim
ilar to the University inVictoria in enrolment size(22000 students) the cam
pus looks very similar in layout to UVicminus the ring road Touring with UCSBPlanning Officer Steve Conner the cam-pus has rows and rows of bike parkingfor students many specifically designedto accommodate U-locks Bike paths areseparated from pedestrian traff ic and of-ten have roundabouts for traffic calmingAs the campus is 8 miles from Santa Bar-bara many of UCSBrsquos innovations havenot had any influence on Santa Barbararsquos
facilities development though this mayhopefully change with continued advoca-cy efforts from the SBBC
The main attractions for bicyclingvisitors to Santa Barbara are the bikepathways and scenic routes leading ouof town and into places such as Goletaand the Santa Ynez valley Pathways suchas the Coast Route and the Maria Ignacio Creek Route offer a safe and leisure-ly ride to Goleta Beach and the UCSBcampus The roads leading to Solvangand the Santa Ynez valley attract seriousroad riders as well as those who wish to
explore the vineyards of thatarea or view the
A TALE OFTWO CITIES
SANTA BARBARA
amp DAVIS CALIFORNIA
byDarrenMarr
PART 1 ndashSANTA BARBARA
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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scenes from the movie Sideways Ofcourse most visitors to the city renta bike or use a loaner from their hoteland ride along the Cabrillo Boulevardbike path
As for in-town attractions MissionSanta Barbara is a must if you are in-terested in the colonial history of thearea and the role of Catholic mission-aries in the development of California
society The Santa Barbara NaturalHistory Museum less than 1 km near-by has excellent exhibits on the landand marine wildlife plus indigenoussettlement of the area Though thereare bike friendly streets leading up tothe area be cautioned that the roadsleading there are hilly
Closer to downtown notable placesof interest include the Courthouse withits muraled courtrooms and bell tower
and the SantaBarbara Mu-seum of Art
both on StateStreet Closerto the beach-front you canfind the San-
ta Barbara Zoo Stearns Wharf withits shops and restaurants and ChasePalm Park with its turn of the centurycarousel If you are fortunate to be intown Tuesdays or Saturdays the San-ta Barbara Farmers Market has someof the finest organic produce fromaround Southern California
Overall Santa Barbara is a very
bikeable city with the Mediterraneanclimate and the compactness of the citycontributing to a vibrant cycling envi-ronment Thousands of people crowdedCabrillo Boulevard in mid-May to watchracers in the Amgen Tour De Californiapass through their community perhapsseeing a future Tour De France cham-pion in the making During the cityrsquosannual CycleMAYnia festival themedrides educational workshops and a bi-cycle fashion show dot the May calen-dar And with the cityrsquos bent on sustain-ability one is bound to find scores of
bicycles at the farmers marketsand at Earth Day celebrations
Makes you wonder if thecity had a few more mod-ern bicycle facilities justhow much more of a bi-cycle friendly communitySanta Barbara could po-tentially be
IF YOU GO
Please refer toRalph Fertigrsquosbicycle tour-ism websitebike-santabar-baraorg for in-formation ontours maps bi-cycle-friendly ac-commodation and bike rentals and shopsI found it to be an excellent resource on allthings cycling in Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalitionis located at 506 E Haley Street andhouses Bici Centro the non-profit bicy-cle repair and restoration shop operatedby the SBBC Programs run from theshop help support youth empowermentand cycling education outreach Web-site bicicentroorg
Did you know there is a GVCC inSanta Barbara The Goleta Valley Cy-cling Club (GVCC) holds recreationalrides around the Santa Barbara area 3times a week Check out their websitegoletabikeorg
Go by train Amtrakrsquos Pacific Sur-fliner route arrives from Los Angeles 5times daily There are bike racks on thetrain but they must be reserved in ad-vance You can also save 20 off yourfare by booking in advance Check outsantabarbaracarfreeorg
Thanks to Ralph Steve Kent Ep-person of Traffic Solutions and EdFrance SBBC Executive Director for
filling me in on the cycling advocacyscene in Santa Barbara
Next issue Part II DavisCalifornia
DARREN MARR is a past presidentof the GVCC and likes to explore
different cities by bike
Photos by D Marr
768 Yates Street Victoria downstairs from Lylersquos Pla
Cenote Restaurant and Loun
CyclistfriendlyGVCCmembersget 10off food
Just off the Goose thSelk Trest
Selkirk Station106-80 Regatta Landing l 250-383-1466
wwwselkirkstationcom
Sales - Service - Rentals - Tours
Elite Electric Bikes
Courtesy Bikes
wwwvictoriavelotechca
2002 Fernwood Road
Victoria BC V8T 2Y9
2509205520
infovictoriavelotechca
Vi
c
t
o
r
i
a
Ve
l
o
te
c
hPRO-SHOP
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 15
386-BIKE (24
1725 Quadra Street Victoria BC V8W 2Lwwwnorthparkbikeshopcom
Sales amp Repairs
10 OFFfor GVCC memb
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1624
W ork continues on constructing the EampN Rail Trail
along the EampN rail line from Victoria to LangfordThe trail is planned to eventually join with the future
Trans Canada Trail running north up Vancouver Island So faronly a few sections are officially open Given that trail construc-tion began in 2010 and is projected to take sev-eral more years to be fully completed now is agood time to consider the challenges in build-ing the Rail Trail
In January 2013 Scansa Construction wasawarded a $196 million contract by CRD for thesections between Colville and Admirals Roadand Maplebank Road (just east of the SongheesNation reserve) and between Hallowell Road
and Craigflower Road by the Four Mile Pub(just northwest of the Songhees reserve)Building the trail is much more than sim-
ply bulldozing trees and brush out of the wayand laying down a layer of asphalt Thereneeds to be a solid roadbed underneath the asphalt in order tohave a smooth level surface that is stable There also needs tobe a drainage system so that rain and surface water will not
wash out the trailIn some places there were large rock outcroppings
that needed to be removed by blasting Howeverthere are houses very close to ndash and in some
cases built on ndash these rock outcroppings so
the blasting had to be carefully controlled to prevent damage to
nearby buildings As well the trail needs to be relatively flatand this has meant bringing in crushed rock in some places tofill in the dips and gullies
In addition to constructing the trail Southern Vancouver Island Rail is installing signals at level rail crossings along the rail line including Intervale andHutchinson Roads in Esquimalt
These sections of the EampN Rail Trail on eitherside of the Songhees Nation reserve are expected tobe open this fall And while these may be helpful tosome bike commuters particularly those headingtoward CFB Esquimalt and the expanding Seaspanshipyards next door to CFB Esquimalt more work
remains to be doneThe short section between Wilson Street andEsquimalt Road in Vic West is still to be tackledalong with constructing a safe crossing for raitrail users at Esquimalt Road near Robert Street
Constructing the trail from the Old Island Highway to wesof Helmcken Road has not yet been scheduled Two bridges paralleling railway trestles (at the Old Island Highway
near the 4 Mile Pub and Helmcken Road in View Royal) wereconstructed to allow for the trail last year Construction of thelatter section of the rail trail would provide a level route towardthe West Shore Until this section of the trail is constructed cyclists wanting to use the new section of the trail that should open
EampN Rail ConstructionUpdate by Sam Macey
EampN Rail Trailsections shouldprovide manycommuters a
choice to use their
bikes rather thantheir cars
16 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1724
this summer will be faced with going up and over 4 Mile Hill
The Trail bypasses the Songhees Nation Reserve near Esqui-malt so cyclists will travel alongside Admirals Road betweenHallowell and Maplebank Roads to rejoin the Rail Trail This isa rather hilly detour from the level rail line
The Admirals RoadColville intersection was upgraded sev-eral years ago but little thought was given to adequately provid-ing for pedestrian and bike crossings
While lots of work remains to be done to fully complete theEampN Trail from east to west completion of these new sections
will be a change for the better Given all the residential develop
ment taking place on the Westshore these EampN Rail Trail sections should provide many commuters a choice to use their bikerather than their cars and thus avoid being stuck in the growingtraffic congestion that now sees both Old Island Highway andTrans Canada Highway traffic at a near standstill during morning and afternoon commutes
SAM MACEY is a GVCC Director anTheme Rides Committee leader
All photos by Sam Macey
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Cyclists and pedestrians crossing Admirals
Road at Colville will be a problem
2 Early work on the trail near Four Mile Hill
and Craigflower showing one of the drainage
problems
3 Rail Crossing control box by Hutchinson road
4 New drainage by trail
5 Removal of rock outcroppings
6 New paving new Hallowell The final result The
new trail has been built up and leveled proper
drainage lines were installed beneath the trail
surface
7 Mural on the navy drydock
8 New rock wall
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This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
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Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
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passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2424
Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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The Greater Victoria Cycling Coalitionand its nearly 400 members believe inour vision of getting more people cyclingmore places more often As yoursquoll see fromthe list below wersquove been busy lately
A ttended the Township of Esquimaltrsquos
recent Open House on the proposed
changes to Admirals Road to make it
more pedestrian and cycle friendly and pressed
our points about the kinds of bike lanes that
should be installed
A ttended the District of Saanichrsquos open-house on changes to Cook Street and theShelbourne Valley Action Plan Mobility
Focus Group to deliver our position on how bestto make these streets more cycle friendly Thanksto Duncan McLelland for his work
Met with City of Victoria staff to discuss
a number of cycling infrastructure is-
sues including BC Transitrsquos proposals
for bus priority lanes on Douglas Street and
potential adverse effects these could have for
cyclists trafc calming measures installed in
Beacon Hill Park changes to Vancouver Street
new bike lanes on JohnsonBegbiePandora
Streets and cycling infrastructure for the new
Johnston Street Bridge
Talked with CRD Parks planning regarding
xing andor replacing the wooden bridge
decks on the trestles on the Galloping
Goose and Lochside trails
Continue to liaise and support the Oak Bay
Active Transportation Committee in their
efforts to help make that municipality
more bike- and pedestrian-friendly
A nother season of Theme Rides So far
we have held the Rites of Spring Ride
the Scenic Murals Tour and the ldquoMagicalrdquo
Historical Ride
Organized free Recreational Rides almostevery weekend and have recently be-
gun to hold two types of rides - rides
for those wanting to ride at a moderate to fast
pace and rides for those wanting to Smell
the Roses Recent rides have included rides to
Schwartz Bay featuring lunch at the Stonehouse
Pub and an overnight camping trip to the Sooke
Potholes Thanks to Simon Wigzell the principal
organizer of most of these rides
W ere awarded a $10000 Sustainability
Grant by the City of Victoria and will
soon be seeking a contractor to help
us develop a ldquoBikes Mean Businessrdquo program
W e had our booth at 11 locations duringBike To Work Week Thanks to all those
who volunteered including Brenda
Boyd Ryan Mijker Ray Straatsma Forrest Nelson
Janet Besler Michael Fisher Jim Alix Ed Pullman
Olena and Mike Russell
W orked with City of Victoria Emergency
Management to organize a 1-day lsquoTour
de Disasterrsquo held on July 27th Forty
people took part in a 25 km rally that wiggled its
way around the city of Victoria
Congratulations to Bill Lane (rst place) Joanne
Thompson (second place) and Bike Sense
Editor Sara Stallard (third place) And a specialthanks to event organizer Rob Johns of Victoria
Emergency Management Agency
Purchased a Norco Birota cargo bike to re
place the GVCC Whale a large trailer The
new trike is pictured above with GVCC
President Ed Pullman and Director Ryan Mijke
and son Ilya who completed the Tour de
Disaster with it
Continue to manage 32 bike lockers at three
BC Transit hub locations (thanks to ou
new Bike Locker coordinator Ron Fownes)
The bike lockers are only $10 a month and are a
great way to securely store your bike and then
board a bus at a bus exchange gvccbccastore
Many GVCC members helped the CRD
conduct bike counts in May and July
These are helpful in determining where
to target improvements in cycling infrastructure
in the Greater Victoria area Much thanks to those
participants who donated their honorariums to
the GVCC
What Have We Done For You Latelycompiled by Sam Macey
Riders on the Architecturaltour admire the Belfry
Theatre in Fernwood Sq
Photo by S Macey
Victoria City councillor
Ben Isitt and GVCC
president Ed Pullman
shake hands on having
completed the tour
Photos this page by
FPerryman or as noted
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 5
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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I canrsquot think of a better place in this country to live or travel
to for some amazing tourism by bicycle than here
on Vancouver Island The crisp sea breeze the
plethora of destinations the beautiful trails and
quiet back roads all make for an ideal touring
experience As someone whorsquos done a bit of
exploring of the surrounding area by bicycle
I wanted to offer you the reader some tips
destinations and web resources to check out to
hopefully get you going on your rst bike trip
G V C C
P r e s
i d e n t rsquo s
M e s s a ge
Welcome to Travel on Two Wheels
Cycle Therapy
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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First and foremost anyone can do cycle touring All you
need is a bicycle a sturdy luggage rack a pair of pan-
niers and a bungee cord to strap items to the back of
your bike Most people I talk to who have not done
cycle touring marvel at what great shape I must be in to
be able to cycle 100 kms in a day at which point I laugh
and inform them that cycling to work and the odd trip
to the Y are about all the exercise I usually get You donrsquotneed a great bike or to be in great shape to do cycle
touring Just give yourself plenty of time to get where
you are going
For my friends looking to take their rst cycling trip I
always recommend taking the Galloping Goose out to
the Sooke Potholes Campground for a night or two Itrsquos
only 50 km away on a very easy trail Therersquos lots to ex-
plore at the potholes including Leechtown the ghost
town about 7 km north of the Potholes where the Gal -
loping Goose Trail ends Just donrsquot forget to bring an
extra inner tube or two a pump and some tire leversin case you get a at along the rocky trail
For a more challenging trip hop the Mill Bay Ferry
and head up to Lake Cowichan via back roads or take
the Trans Canada Trail up from Shawnigan Lake (and
marvel at the beauty of Kinsol Trestle on your way
there) Alternatively take the Coho over to Port Ange-
les and head over to Port Townsend Be sure to take
the Olympic Discovery Trail between Port Angeles
and Sequim before getting on Highway 101 Take the
ferry to Whidbey Island and up to Anacortes (and over
the stunning Deception Pass) before catching the ferr y
back to SidneyGo to cyclevancouverislandca to check out lots of
things to do and places to visit on bike here on Vancou-
ver Island Finally check out warmshowersorg Itrsquos a free
worldwide hospitality exchange for cyclists Sign up to
get access to thousands of billet listings and offer your
own home up for touring cyclists
If you have some cycle touring stories from in and
around Greater Victoria and the surrounding area
send them to me at presidentgvccbcca and I will
post them on our website for others to check out and
either replicate your awesome experience or hopeful-ly avoid some of the pitfalls you may have encoun-
tered on your two-wheel journey
EDWARD PULLMAN is the GVCCpresident and avid cycle tourist
Downtown Victoria BC seen from Songhees point at
sunset on an August evening Photo by Felicity Perryman
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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A Salt Spring Island Gander
W
hatrsquos good for the Goose ndash ie cycling the Gallop-ing Goose Trail ndash has got to be good for the Gan-der ndash meaning spinning over the Salt Spring Islandsection of the emerging Salish Sea Regional Trail
Network The Salish Sea Regional Trail Network will ultimate-ly connect the Galloping Goose Lochside Trails Trans-Can-ada Trail Humpback and Cowichan Valley Regional TrailWhether yoursquore an experienced cyclist or newly venturing outSalt Springrsquos bound to be a memorable trip Itrsquos got it all Here
is a primer for your Salt SpringGander so you come prepared
Salt Spring Island has alwaysbeen a great place to visit wheth-er for a day trip to the FarmerrsquosMarket or for a weekend at a lo-cal Bed and Breakfast A groupof committed residents Island
Pathways is working to makethe Island more accessible forcyclists both locals and tourists
Yoursquoll most likely come by ferry Your little sea cruise willcost $200 extra the price of walking on with your bicycle If youhave a BC Ferries Experience card the fee is waived The solebenefit of this purchase is the privilege of parking your bicycleby a bow or stern rail Bicycles strapped to the back of vehiclestaking up deck space go for free Go figure
Chances are good yoursquoll meet a few cyclists on board Cyclingtraffic on Salt Spring sailings has increased approximately 12each of the last five years while motor traffic has declined overthe same period Cheers for you yoursquore pushing the wave Cha
up fellow pedallers find out if theyrsquore seasoned Salt Spring Is-land riders or intrepid newbies The formerwill tell you things worth knowing aboutcycling on island the latter may appreciatehearing some tips yoursquove picked up here
Wander the boat to find a big framedversion of Island Pathways award-win-ning ldquoHeritage Map with Bike RoutesrdquoItrsquos also posted by Rock Salt Restaurantat Fulford and by the Visitorsrsquo Centrein Ganges This map is a must-seefor its touring historic natural his-tory and geologic information For
those who want to read and learnfrom it itrsquos a must-have memen-to You can buy it for $850 atmany island stores or you canorder it from wwwisland-pathwaysca
From this map and theTrails BC map (trailsbccavancouver-island
by Brenda Guiled
Bike shop in Fulford Harbour by P Medved View of the Fulford Valley from Mount Maxwell by ProudlyDonut
Morningside Organic Cafe in Fulford Harbour by Nen222Saltspring fishing boat by NRTphotos
After walking your bike off the
ferry set yourinner clock to
island time
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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loops-journeyscowichan-salt-spring-180-km)you can plan your routes If yoursquore on the SwartzBay-Fulford Harbour ferry look for Salt SpringldquoShare the Roadrdquo brochures ndash another Island Path-ways initiative Keep one on hand for safety and con-tact information
Salt Springrsquos new Cycling Master Plan calls for a
bikeway along the main spine roads connecting thethree ferry terminals through the Ganges hub butthese are fast busy highways For quieter safer ridesyoursquod best take the peaceful back roads shown on theTrails BC map
After walking your bike off the ferry set your in-ner clock to island time ie donrsquot rush Wait until
the cars and trucks have cleared the boatand roared up the road Yoursquoll
see why you needthose stay-put min-utes when you hitthe pavementhellip be-
cause a lot of pave-ment is lacking on the
shouldersSalt Spring roads
are narrow windingand hilly plus most are in
rough shape from decadeswithout capital upgrades
Yoursquore definitely in the coun-try and on quiet stretches cy-
cling can be bucolic and restful comparedto staying wired for urban hazards
While you wonrsquot likely get doored onSalt Spring even in town on the busiesdays there are challenges aplenty tokeep you alert This includes sharingthe limited road space with drivers
fellow cyclists and deer The dangersand idiocies arenrsquot terribly commonbut they give something for locals
to gripe about Please be appropriately cau-tious and considerate without fail to maximize the safe-
ty and pleasure of your trip and leave a good vibe behind whenyoursquore gone
For amenities and things to do consult Island Pathways mapdo a web search including local media the Gulf Islands Drift-wood and Community Exchange pick up brochures aboard theferries ask around as you sail and when on island and stop at theVisitorsrsquo Centre in Ganges
While cycling on island yoursquoll encounter farm stands studios
to visit hiking possibilities and if yoursquore tuned and ready forthem serendipitous connections bound to make your trip espe-cially charmed in a very Salt Spring way
BRENDA GUILED is chair of Island Pathways a Salt SpringIsland non-profit thatrsquos been working to improve non
motorized transportation on Salt Spring Island for 25 yearsshe spearheads Island Pathways Bicycle Working Group
On the dock at Fulford by H Marsh Saturday farmers market in Ganges by SmallestBones
Ganges harbour by RJ RuppenthalBike shop in Ganges by ReshElectrons
S a l i s h S e
a T r a i l
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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dominate the narrow streets Trucks are permitted only be-
fore 10 am to re-supply the shops but there were parking lotsand bike racks nearby for cars and bikes It took a bit of time to
get accustomed to cycling along with the thousands of othercyclists on the roads and it became even more important to
carefully watch for other cyclists along with pedestrians andmotorized traff ic
There is a lot of new housing being constructed outside
of Utrecht and Oss The Dutch suburbs we saw all had great
cycling amenities We rode on many paved bike paths sepa-rate but alongside the roads for cars and trucks On many ofthe narrow farm roads there are marked
bike lanes on both sides of the road leav-ing only enough space for one car to drivebetween
In Doesburg about 60 km east of Osswe saw hundreds of bikes locked to the bike
racks near the train stations There werealso bike lockers at the stations and they
appeared fully occupied from morning toevening The likely reason Many Dutchpeople have two bikes ndash one to ride from
their residence to the train station and an-other at the other end to ride from there to
their work siteWhile there are lots of bikes and lots of
cycling infrastructure along with commut-er rail and bus services in Holland like
BC most families seem to own a car alongwith one or more bikes and virtually allthe goods available in stores arrive there
by truck Holland has a pretty efficienthighway system but also has traffic jams
(we noticed the equivalent to our ColwoodCrawl in some cities) We also took note o
the consideration paid to cyclists by Dutchtransportation planners A special high-way overpass was constructed for cyclists
to pass over a section of freeway that wasbeing reconstructed near Oss ndash we havenrsquot
noticed that much consideration in BC
Cyclingin Holland
Our first impressions of Hollandwere not of bicycles but of the
modern efficient freeway systemfor cars and trucks But when we arrived
in Gouda bicycles were everywhere andfor good reason Holland is ldquoflat as a Dutchpannekoekrdquo so itrsquos easy to bike and old cit-
ies like Gouda have very narrow roads andlimited places for cars to drive and park
(residents require parking permits for theircars though most seem to own a car) We
saw cyclists of all ages ndash children business-
men and seniors riding Dutch-style bikes ndash high handlebars long wheelbase fullfenders enclosed chains built-in head- andtaillights and rear wheel locks and usually
equipped with huge panniersBike helmets are not mandatory in Hol-
land and only the Dutch sport bicycle rid-ers seem to favour wearing them Small
gas-powered motor scooters are also per-mitted on bike paths In Utrecht (3rd larg-est Dutch city) and Oss a smaller town
the downtowns are quite old so pedestrians
B i k e s i n H o l l a n d b y S h i r a t
s k i
b y N o r a h M
a c e y
Dutch farm roads near Oss Note the 2 bikelanes leaving room for only 1 car
Cyclists of all ages in Oss ndashnote they donrsquot ride single file
The bike in the foreground features an electric
motor on the front wheel ndash the battery is in the
chain guard and easily removed for overnight
charging The bike in the background is
specially made for the Dutch Post Office ndash single
speed but capable of carrying 40 kg of mail
10 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Cycling on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man is about the size of Saltspring Island but with a much
bigger population (86000) Besides tourism and agriculture thecountry is a tax haven and
most international banksinsurance companies and in-
vestment houses have offices
there Each year for over 100years the Isle of Man Tourist
Trophy or TT motorcycleraces have attracted spec-
tators Run on public roadsthey are very dangerous rac-
es We stayed 8km outsideof Douglas the main cityon the Isle and thought that
renting bicycles would be agreat way to get around during race week But after enjoying such easy
pedaling in Holland cycling on the Isle of Man was no joy and made usmore appreciative of the cycling infrastructure and amenities we have
in Greater VictoriaThere are plenty of cyclists on the Isle of Man such as Mark Cav-
endish the ldquoManx Missilerdquo and winner of 5 stages of this yearrsquos Giro
drsquoItalia The Isle also has lots of public trails that mountain bikers enjoyBut for commuter and recreational cycling other than a paved bike path
along the Promenade tourist area in Douglas there is nothing The roadsare narrow most have no sidewalks and many have hedges on both sides
so it can be unnerving to be pedaling or even walking on them Thereare plenty of hills as we found
when getting to and from ourhotel and of course we hadto adjust to riding on the left
and mounted our strap-onmirrors on our right handle-
bars We found that motoristswere generally courteous to
cyclists on Isle of ManOverall our travels to
Holland and Isle of Man made us appreciate how much better Greater
Victoriarsquos cycling amenities and infrastructure could be (like in Holland)and appreciate that what we have is far better than that in some other
countries like Isle of Man
NORAH MACEY is a GVCC member and part of the ThemeRides organizing committee Photos by Sam Macey
Biking in Europe
My life will never be the same For I havetasted the joy of bike lanes that donrsquot endcycling infrastructure everywhere and
traffic that patiently yields to bikes Yes itrsquos Co-penhagen MY element Getting to Copenhagenwas an adventure so I should start from the be-
ginningNine of us signed up for a 12 day ride from Ber-lin to Copenhagen during June 2013 ldquoRadwegrdquotook us over 700 kms through East Germanyto Denmark Germany has excellent bike pathsranging from hard packed gravel to concretetracks to pavement A few kms were on secondaryroads We rode with the birds through managedforests and on concrete tracks through farmersfields We also rode beside the sea canals andlakes Fragrance of linden trees wild roses andmock orange greeted us often
The ride was challenging with rolling hills andaverage distances of 60+ km Of course we had oneday of fierce head winds with rolling hills and adistance of 60 km to test our endurance
When the path took us to Denmark we cameacross more roads than in Germany But within30 km of Copenhagen those incredible bike lanesbegin Bike lanes are on every street and manyare raised about 6 inches from other lanes Bikeshave their own traffic lights of course In the coreof the city at major intersections bright blue lanesalert vehicles to yield to bikes And they do Mo-torists stop before turning right looking right forbikes Naturally bikes are allowed on subways andtrains and there are ramps to accommodate rath-
er than stairs Truly a cyclists dream Berlin wassimilarly bike friendly although with less desig-nated bike lanes
Anyone who likes to ride bike really ought totry cycling in Copenhagen Or broaden your ex-perience and ride from Berlin
JANET BESLER is a 10-year member of the GVCC andcurrently works with the themed rides committeeNewly retired she has the luxury of cycling more
B i k e s i n B e r l i n v i a F l i c k r c r e at i v e c o m m o n s
The cycle routefrom Berlin toCopenhagen
Marine Drive near Douglas is one of thebetter places to cycle on the Isle as carsare restricted
Racks full of bikes outside Oss train stationin Holland
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 1
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Itrsquos not just the traditional bike vacation orthe stereotype of a grubby loner cheapingout with a tent and a forestry campsite
but weekend riders with expensive bikes anda credit card looking for good food gooddrink and the mileage to earn the calories
Ten years ago I took a trip to the Seattle
Bike Show to promote Vancouver Island as acycling destination It was part of an initiativeenvisioned by Brian Hobson operations man-ager at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel who wasand still is years ahead of the curve
A thousand people flowed through thebooth I had with my marketing friend GeorgeAllen a fellow racer from the early days of thebike boom in the lsquo70s We designed a surveyand found what Brian had already discovered ndash bike holidays involved nice hotels cozy Band Brsquos and a more generous budget thanmost in the tourist industry assumed though
more are gaining that understandingIn the intervening years we produced a
couple of maps and struggling to find theformula to get it back into print itrsquos an ideathat has never gone away but seems like anidea whose time has really come
Event tourism is getting bigger withldquoGran Fondordquo events popping up in com-munities near and far ndash a couple in Victoriawhere hundreds or thousands for riders take
Cycling While that may
metaphor itrsquos
idays are in Y
trend across N
world Here to
Island or a shor
or the America
the steady stre
routes and trails
tracted by the
Victoria and S
the circle bette
La Route Verte Quebec by S Olmsted
Arbutus CoveGuest House
Te perfect overnightbike getaway from Victoria
and surrounding communities
Arbutus Cove is a beautiful waterfront bou-tique guest house located on the GallopingGoose trail 37 kilometers from Victoria onthe Sooke Basin a 3 hour ride
3 private deluxe rooms each with theirown entrances queen beds and full bath-rooms share a huge waterfront deck withhot tub await the cycling visitor
A 15 minute walk takes you to the 17 Mile
Pub for supper and a breakfast is servedbefore your departure
June 15 - Sept 14 $150 ( for 2)Sept 15 - June 14 $125 (for 2)
Reservations
wwwarbutuscoveguesthousecom
London England has aggressively increased cycling rates by
adding bike lanes cycle hire stations and recently committing to a $15 billion
10-year plan to create a complete cycling network in the city The mayor and
his team aim to ldquode-Lycra-fyrdquo cycling and get ldquonormal peoplerdquo on bikes as part
of every day life and the cityrsquos fabric ~The Guardian
Photos London bikeshare bikes ready for hire Shoreditch in use in Soho a
popular sticker commuters headed home and the view from a double deckerof bikes mixing with vehicle traffic in south London June 2013 by F Perryman 98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313712 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1324
e new golfng a little tired as a
e mark Active hol-
nd examples of a
rica and around the
oria and across the
y on the Gulf Islands
ans not to mention
yclists crowding the
ympic Peninsula at-
y of loop tours with
Most everyone likes
out and back ride)
Slickrock Trail Moab Utah by Trailsource
to the roads for day long loops of every roadthey can get local governments to carve offfor them The races out there are part of thatmarket too ndash they bring riders into a com-munity to fill up hotels and order dessertsat every turn They donrsquot just come to enjoythe ride they bring their 5000 calorie a day
appetites with them Do the mathVermontrsquos cycle tourism industry is big-
ger than maple syrup Nobody heard of Moabuntil mountain bikers made it a destinationVelo Quebec has created a powerhouse in-dustry around La Route Verte and createdthousands of jobs along with it The Okana-gan was in a panic when fire destroyed tres-tles along the Kettle Valley rail trail ndash Chamber of Commerce spokes-persons told anybody in themedia who would listen thatthe disaster could cost them
$5 million a year in lossesBack here in Victoria
we who see the world frombehind the handlebars haveknown for a long time whatan asset we have in our trailsnot just the roads and routesof the city and countryside Morethan a couple of million trips a year arerecorded on the Goose and Lochside Many
are of course local commuters but tens of thou-sands will be our visitor market or another sliceof the travel industry the local day traveler Thebakery in Sidney doesnrsquot care if the visitor isfrom Victoria or Virginia They just know thatsomeone on a bike discovered them on a bike
More are on the way The new EampN trail is
disjointed and incomplete but find your way oualong the corridor and you will see commutersand neighbourhood residents have already dis-covered what it has to offer The cycling touristswonrsquot be far behind if they arenrsquot there already
Before the Goose was done I was out explor-ing the emerging trail ndash no pavement no bridg-es no signs but the name had found its way to
New Zealand and some Kiwi on a bike wasstruggling up and down the slopes at
Wilkinson Rd where there is a trestlenow He wasnrsquot the first And moreclearly he was the very thin edge of
the wedge ndash a tsunami of riders iswashing up on our shores and wewould do well to make them feewelcome
JOHN LUTON is Executive Directorof Capital Bike and Walk which provides
consulting services on infrastructureand services for cycling and walking and
coordinates the Vancouver Island Cycle TourismAlliance to promote the Island as a cycling
destination He is a former president of the GVCC
a tsunamiof riders is
washing up onour shores
by JohnLuton
Kettle Valley BC by Spatialmongrel
theybring their
5000 caloriea day appetites with them Do
the math
Andalucia Spain The cities of southern Spain including Seville CordobaMalaga and Granada have taken their rate of cycling from nearly zero to more than double
that of Victoriarsquos Seville in 2006-7 added 120km of separated bike lanes and went from
5000 riders a day to over 72000 for a bike share of 7 ldquoSeville is now a cleaner
greener placeThe cycle lanes make it much easier to feel securerdquo
~ J Sanchez Seville
Photos L to R Sevici Bike share
in Seville (photo flickrcom)
separated bike lanes in Malaga
bike share outside Cordoba
train station tourism by bike -
Roman ruins in Malaga and a
local citizen in Malaga riding
its smooth flat routesPhotos
by F Perryman June 2013Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 13983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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W e in Victoria like to pride our-selves as a cycling destinationcity Indeed many visitors come
to Victoria to sample our cycle-friendli-ness Assets such as the Galloping Gooseand Lochside Trails a mild climate to cy-cle year-round our relative compactnessand our healthy active and sustainablelifestyle have all contributed to a vibrantcycling culture which many visitors haveadmired
Although I am bless-ed to live in a community
where it is fashionable tobike to the store the showor a coffee date as well aswork I have often won-dered if there are similarcities to ours where cy-cling is the thing to doand where people visit for the riding orculture
While reviewing a recent League ofAmerican Bicyclists commuter modeshare report (2010) 2 cities caught myattention Davis California with a 22mode share and Santa Barbara California
with 64 (For the record Greater Victo-ria is 59 the highest in Canada) SinceDavis is known historically as a cyclingcity and Santa Barbara is a popular train-ing ground for cycle racers I decided toexplore these cities for myself last May
Santa Barbara was my first stop Ar-riving by train from Los Angeles I no-ticed at least a dozen bikes passing the
station in my first 15 minuteshere Within hours of my
arrival I had a rental bike from SantaBarbara Bikes-to-Go all set up and wasgiven a tour of the city by Ralph Fer-tig a member of the SantaBarbara Bicycle Coalition(SBBC) While touring thecity I noticed that there is auniform look to many of thebuildings here all designed
in the Spanish adobe styleand fairly low rise (not ex-ceeding 6 stories)
Santa Barbara has some well-devel-oped bicycle facilities The best knownand most popular pathway is the Cabril-lo Boulevard bike path paralleling thebeachfront yielding tremendous viewsOn weekends this path can get busy withwalkers joggers in-line skaters and ofcourse cyclists Most cyclists are thoseon cruiser bikes enjoying a leisurely ride
Santa Barbara Countyhas 206 miles of bike lanes
and designated bike routesWhile some of these routesare well designed and con-venient other streets disap-pointingly have bike laneswhich permit cars to beparked in them during busi-
ness hours Other bike lanes are narrowlydesigned like those on State Street themain thoroughfare
Bike parking can also be an issuewhen parking downtown Most facilitiestend to accommodate cable lock parkingover u-lock parking as it may be more
convenient to carry these type of locksaround Unfortunately cable locks havetheir security shortcomings In additionmany public buildings down-town have the ldquowheel benderrdquokind of rack which not onlyprovides little protection fromtheft but could damage a bicy-clersquos wheels if knocked over For-tunately for commuters SantaBarbara has a Bikestation where
members can access secure bike parking247 as well as access repair facilitiesduring business hours
If there is hope for cy-cling facilities developmenin the future it can befound at the University oCalifornia Santa Barbarain suburban Goleta Sim
ilar to the University inVictoria in enrolment size(22000 students) the cam
pus looks very similar in layout to UVicminus the ring road Touring with UCSBPlanning Officer Steve Conner the cam-pus has rows and rows of bike parkingfor students many specifically designedto accommodate U-locks Bike paths areseparated from pedestrian traff ic and of-ten have roundabouts for traffic calmingAs the campus is 8 miles from Santa Bar-bara many of UCSBrsquos innovations havenot had any influence on Santa Barbararsquos
facilities development though this mayhopefully change with continued advoca-cy efforts from the SBBC
The main attractions for bicyclingvisitors to Santa Barbara are the bikepathways and scenic routes leading ouof town and into places such as Goletaand the Santa Ynez valley Pathways suchas the Coast Route and the Maria Ignacio Creek Route offer a safe and leisure-ly ride to Goleta Beach and the UCSBcampus The roads leading to Solvangand the Santa Ynez valley attract seriousroad riders as well as those who wish to
explore the vineyards of thatarea or view the
A TALE OFTWO CITIES
SANTA BARBARA
amp DAVIS CALIFORNIA
byDarrenMarr
PART 1 ndashSANTA BARBARA
14 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1524
scenes from the movie Sideways Ofcourse most visitors to the city renta bike or use a loaner from their hoteland ride along the Cabrillo Boulevardbike path
As for in-town attractions MissionSanta Barbara is a must if you are in-terested in the colonial history of thearea and the role of Catholic mission-aries in the development of California
society The Santa Barbara NaturalHistory Museum less than 1 km near-by has excellent exhibits on the landand marine wildlife plus indigenoussettlement of the area Though thereare bike friendly streets leading up tothe area be cautioned that the roadsleading there are hilly
Closer to downtown notable placesof interest include the Courthouse withits muraled courtrooms and bell tower
and the SantaBarbara Mu-seum of Art
both on StateStreet Closerto the beach-front you canfind the San-
ta Barbara Zoo Stearns Wharf withits shops and restaurants and ChasePalm Park with its turn of the centurycarousel If you are fortunate to be intown Tuesdays or Saturdays the San-ta Barbara Farmers Market has someof the finest organic produce fromaround Southern California
Overall Santa Barbara is a very
bikeable city with the Mediterraneanclimate and the compactness of the citycontributing to a vibrant cycling envi-ronment Thousands of people crowdedCabrillo Boulevard in mid-May to watchracers in the Amgen Tour De Californiapass through their community perhapsseeing a future Tour De France cham-pion in the making During the cityrsquosannual CycleMAYnia festival themedrides educational workshops and a bi-cycle fashion show dot the May calen-dar And with the cityrsquos bent on sustain-ability one is bound to find scores of
bicycles at the farmers marketsand at Earth Day celebrations
Makes you wonder if thecity had a few more mod-ern bicycle facilities justhow much more of a bi-cycle friendly communitySanta Barbara could po-tentially be
IF YOU GO
Please refer toRalph Fertigrsquosbicycle tour-ism websitebike-santabar-baraorg for in-formation ontours maps bi-cycle-friendly ac-commodation and bike rentals and shopsI found it to be an excellent resource on allthings cycling in Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalitionis located at 506 E Haley Street andhouses Bici Centro the non-profit bicy-cle repair and restoration shop operatedby the SBBC Programs run from theshop help support youth empowermentand cycling education outreach Web-site bicicentroorg
Did you know there is a GVCC inSanta Barbara The Goleta Valley Cy-cling Club (GVCC) holds recreationalrides around the Santa Barbara area 3times a week Check out their websitegoletabikeorg
Go by train Amtrakrsquos Pacific Sur-fliner route arrives from Los Angeles 5times daily There are bike racks on thetrain but they must be reserved in ad-vance You can also save 20 off yourfare by booking in advance Check outsantabarbaracarfreeorg
Thanks to Ralph Steve Kent Ep-person of Traffic Solutions and EdFrance SBBC Executive Director for
filling me in on the cycling advocacyscene in Santa Barbara
Next issue Part II DavisCalifornia
DARREN MARR is a past presidentof the GVCC and likes to explore
different cities by bike
Photos by D Marr
768 Yates Street Victoria downstairs from Lylersquos Pla
Cenote Restaurant and Loun
CyclistfriendlyGVCCmembersget 10off food
Just off the Goose thSelk Trest
Selkirk Station106-80 Regatta Landing l 250-383-1466
wwwselkirkstationcom
Sales - Service - Rentals - Tours
Elite Electric Bikes
Courtesy Bikes
wwwvictoriavelotechca
2002 Fernwood Road
Victoria BC V8T 2Y9
2509205520
infovictoriavelotechca
Vi
c
t
o
r
i
a
Ve
l
o
te
c
hPRO-SHOP
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 15
386-BIKE (24
1725 Quadra Street Victoria BC V8W 2Lwwwnorthparkbikeshopcom
Sales amp Repairs
10 OFFfor GVCC memb
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1624
W ork continues on constructing the EampN Rail Trail
along the EampN rail line from Victoria to LangfordThe trail is planned to eventually join with the future
Trans Canada Trail running north up Vancouver Island So faronly a few sections are officially open Given that trail construc-tion began in 2010 and is projected to take sev-eral more years to be fully completed now is agood time to consider the challenges in build-ing the Rail Trail
In January 2013 Scansa Construction wasawarded a $196 million contract by CRD for thesections between Colville and Admirals Roadand Maplebank Road (just east of the SongheesNation reserve) and between Hallowell Road
and Craigflower Road by the Four Mile Pub(just northwest of the Songhees reserve)Building the trail is much more than sim-
ply bulldozing trees and brush out of the wayand laying down a layer of asphalt Thereneeds to be a solid roadbed underneath the asphalt in order tohave a smooth level surface that is stable There also needs tobe a drainage system so that rain and surface water will not
wash out the trailIn some places there were large rock outcroppings
that needed to be removed by blasting Howeverthere are houses very close to ndash and in some
cases built on ndash these rock outcroppings so
the blasting had to be carefully controlled to prevent damage to
nearby buildings As well the trail needs to be relatively flatand this has meant bringing in crushed rock in some places tofill in the dips and gullies
In addition to constructing the trail Southern Vancouver Island Rail is installing signals at level rail crossings along the rail line including Intervale andHutchinson Roads in Esquimalt
These sections of the EampN Rail Trail on eitherside of the Songhees Nation reserve are expected tobe open this fall And while these may be helpful tosome bike commuters particularly those headingtoward CFB Esquimalt and the expanding Seaspanshipyards next door to CFB Esquimalt more work
remains to be doneThe short section between Wilson Street andEsquimalt Road in Vic West is still to be tackledalong with constructing a safe crossing for raitrail users at Esquimalt Road near Robert Street
Constructing the trail from the Old Island Highway to wesof Helmcken Road has not yet been scheduled Two bridges paralleling railway trestles (at the Old Island Highway
near the 4 Mile Pub and Helmcken Road in View Royal) wereconstructed to allow for the trail last year Construction of thelatter section of the rail trail would provide a level route towardthe West Shore Until this section of the trail is constructed cyclists wanting to use the new section of the trail that should open
EampN Rail ConstructionUpdate by Sam Macey
EampN Rail Trailsections shouldprovide manycommuters a
choice to use their
bikes rather thantheir cars
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this summer will be faced with going up and over 4 Mile Hill
The Trail bypasses the Songhees Nation Reserve near Esqui-malt so cyclists will travel alongside Admirals Road betweenHallowell and Maplebank Roads to rejoin the Rail Trail This isa rather hilly detour from the level rail line
The Admirals RoadColville intersection was upgraded sev-eral years ago but little thought was given to adequately provid-ing for pedestrian and bike crossings
While lots of work remains to be done to fully complete theEampN Trail from east to west completion of these new sections
will be a change for the better Given all the residential develop
ment taking place on the Westshore these EampN Rail Trail sections should provide many commuters a choice to use their bikerather than their cars and thus avoid being stuck in the growingtraffic congestion that now sees both Old Island Highway andTrans Canada Highway traffic at a near standstill during morning and afternoon commutes
SAM MACEY is a GVCC Director anTheme Rides Committee leader
All photos by Sam Macey
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Cyclists and pedestrians crossing Admirals
Road at Colville will be a problem
2 Early work on the trail near Four Mile Hill
and Craigflower showing one of the drainage
problems
3 Rail Crossing control box by Hutchinson road
4 New drainage by trail
5 Removal of rock outcroppings
6 New paving new Hallowell The final result The
new trail has been built up and leveled proper
drainage lines were installed beneath the trail
surface
7 Mural on the navy drydock
8 New rock wall
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This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
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Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
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passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
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Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2424
Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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I canrsquot think of a better place in this country to live or travel
to for some amazing tourism by bicycle than here
on Vancouver Island The crisp sea breeze the
plethora of destinations the beautiful trails and
quiet back roads all make for an ideal touring
experience As someone whorsquos done a bit of
exploring of the surrounding area by bicycle
I wanted to offer you the reader some tips
destinations and web resources to check out to
hopefully get you going on your rst bike trip
G V C C
P r e s
i d e n t rsquo s
M e s s a ge
Welcome to Travel on Two Wheels
Cycle Therapy
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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First and foremost anyone can do cycle touring All you
need is a bicycle a sturdy luggage rack a pair of pan-
niers and a bungee cord to strap items to the back of
your bike Most people I talk to who have not done
cycle touring marvel at what great shape I must be in to
be able to cycle 100 kms in a day at which point I laugh
and inform them that cycling to work and the odd trip
to the Y are about all the exercise I usually get You donrsquotneed a great bike or to be in great shape to do cycle
touring Just give yourself plenty of time to get where
you are going
For my friends looking to take their rst cycling trip I
always recommend taking the Galloping Goose out to
the Sooke Potholes Campground for a night or two Itrsquos
only 50 km away on a very easy trail Therersquos lots to ex-
plore at the potholes including Leechtown the ghost
town about 7 km north of the Potholes where the Gal -
loping Goose Trail ends Just donrsquot forget to bring an
extra inner tube or two a pump and some tire leversin case you get a at along the rocky trail
For a more challenging trip hop the Mill Bay Ferry
and head up to Lake Cowichan via back roads or take
the Trans Canada Trail up from Shawnigan Lake (and
marvel at the beauty of Kinsol Trestle on your way
there) Alternatively take the Coho over to Port Ange-
les and head over to Port Townsend Be sure to take
the Olympic Discovery Trail between Port Angeles
and Sequim before getting on Highway 101 Take the
ferry to Whidbey Island and up to Anacortes (and over
the stunning Deception Pass) before catching the ferr y
back to SidneyGo to cyclevancouverislandca to check out lots of
things to do and places to visit on bike here on Vancou-
ver Island Finally check out warmshowersorg Itrsquos a free
worldwide hospitality exchange for cyclists Sign up to
get access to thousands of billet listings and offer your
own home up for touring cyclists
If you have some cycle touring stories from in and
around Greater Victoria and the surrounding area
send them to me at presidentgvccbcca and I will
post them on our website for others to check out and
either replicate your awesome experience or hopeful-ly avoid some of the pitfalls you may have encoun-
tered on your two-wheel journey
EDWARD PULLMAN is the GVCCpresident and avid cycle tourist
Downtown Victoria BC seen from Songhees point at
sunset on an August evening Photo by Felicity Perryman
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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A Salt Spring Island Gander
W
hatrsquos good for the Goose ndash ie cycling the Gallop-ing Goose Trail ndash has got to be good for the Gan-der ndash meaning spinning over the Salt Spring Islandsection of the emerging Salish Sea Regional Trail
Network The Salish Sea Regional Trail Network will ultimate-ly connect the Galloping Goose Lochside Trails Trans-Can-ada Trail Humpback and Cowichan Valley Regional TrailWhether yoursquore an experienced cyclist or newly venturing outSalt Springrsquos bound to be a memorable trip Itrsquos got it all Here
is a primer for your Salt SpringGander so you come prepared
Salt Spring Island has alwaysbeen a great place to visit wheth-er for a day trip to the FarmerrsquosMarket or for a weekend at a lo-cal Bed and Breakfast A groupof committed residents Island
Pathways is working to makethe Island more accessible forcyclists both locals and tourists
Yoursquoll most likely come by ferry Your little sea cruise willcost $200 extra the price of walking on with your bicycle If youhave a BC Ferries Experience card the fee is waived The solebenefit of this purchase is the privilege of parking your bicycleby a bow or stern rail Bicycles strapped to the back of vehiclestaking up deck space go for free Go figure
Chances are good yoursquoll meet a few cyclists on board Cyclingtraffic on Salt Spring sailings has increased approximately 12each of the last five years while motor traffic has declined overthe same period Cheers for you yoursquore pushing the wave Cha
up fellow pedallers find out if theyrsquore seasoned Salt Spring Is-land riders or intrepid newbies The formerwill tell you things worth knowing aboutcycling on island the latter may appreciatehearing some tips yoursquove picked up here
Wander the boat to find a big framedversion of Island Pathways award-win-ning ldquoHeritage Map with Bike RoutesrdquoItrsquos also posted by Rock Salt Restaurantat Fulford and by the Visitorsrsquo Centrein Ganges This map is a must-seefor its touring historic natural his-tory and geologic information For
those who want to read and learnfrom it itrsquos a must-have memen-to You can buy it for $850 atmany island stores or you canorder it from wwwisland-pathwaysca
From this map and theTrails BC map (trailsbccavancouver-island
by Brenda Guiled
Bike shop in Fulford Harbour by P Medved View of the Fulford Valley from Mount Maxwell by ProudlyDonut
Morningside Organic Cafe in Fulford Harbour by Nen222Saltspring fishing boat by NRTphotos
After walking your bike off the
ferry set yourinner clock to
island time
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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loops-journeyscowichan-salt-spring-180-km)you can plan your routes If yoursquore on the SwartzBay-Fulford Harbour ferry look for Salt SpringldquoShare the Roadrdquo brochures ndash another Island Path-ways initiative Keep one on hand for safety and con-tact information
Salt Springrsquos new Cycling Master Plan calls for a
bikeway along the main spine roads connecting thethree ferry terminals through the Ganges hub butthese are fast busy highways For quieter safer ridesyoursquod best take the peaceful back roads shown on theTrails BC map
After walking your bike off the ferry set your in-ner clock to island time ie donrsquot rush Wait until
the cars and trucks have cleared the boatand roared up the road Yoursquoll
see why you needthose stay-put min-utes when you hitthe pavementhellip be-
cause a lot of pave-ment is lacking on the
shouldersSalt Spring roads
are narrow windingand hilly plus most are in
rough shape from decadeswithout capital upgrades
Yoursquore definitely in the coun-try and on quiet stretches cy-
cling can be bucolic and restful comparedto staying wired for urban hazards
While you wonrsquot likely get doored onSalt Spring even in town on the busiesdays there are challenges aplenty tokeep you alert This includes sharingthe limited road space with drivers
fellow cyclists and deer The dangersand idiocies arenrsquot terribly commonbut they give something for locals
to gripe about Please be appropriately cau-tious and considerate without fail to maximize the safe-
ty and pleasure of your trip and leave a good vibe behind whenyoursquore gone
For amenities and things to do consult Island Pathways mapdo a web search including local media the Gulf Islands Drift-wood and Community Exchange pick up brochures aboard theferries ask around as you sail and when on island and stop at theVisitorsrsquo Centre in Ganges
While cycling on island yoursquoll encounter farm stands studios
to visit hiking possibilities and if yoursquore tuned and ready forthem serendipitous connections bound to make your trip espe-cially charmed in a very Salt Spring way
BRENDA GUILED is chair of Island Pathways a Salt SpringIsland non-profit thatrsquos been working to improve non
motorized transportation on Salt Spring Island for 25 yearsshe spearheads Island Pathways Bicycle Working Group
On the dock at Fulford by H Marsh Saturday farmers market in Ganges by SmallestBones
Ganges harbour by RJ RuppenthalBike shop in Ganges by ReshElectrons
S a l i s h S e
a T r a i l
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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dominate the narrow streets Trucks are permitted only be-
fore 10 am to re-supply the shops but there were parking lotsand bike racks nearby for cars and bikes It took a bit of time to
get accustomed to cycling along with the thousands of othercyclists on the roads and it became even more important to
carefully watch for other cyclists along with pedestrians andmotorized traff ic
There is a lot of new housing being constructed outside
of Utrecht and Oss The Dutch suburbs we saw all had great
cycling amenities We rode on many paved bike paths sepa-rate but alongside the roads for cars and trucks On many ofthe narrow farm roads there are marked
bike lanes on both sides of the road leav-ing only enough space for one car to drivebetween
In Doesburg about 60 km east of Osswe saw hundreds of bikes locked to the bike
racks near the train stations There werealso bike lockers at the stations and they
appeared fully occupied from morning toevening The likely reason Many Dutchpeople have two bikes ndash one to ride from
their residence to the train station and an-other at the other end to ride from there to
their work siteWhile there are lots of bikes and lots of
cycling infrastructure along with commut-er rail and bus services in Holland like
BC most families seem to own a car alongwith one or more bikes and virtually allthe goods available in stores arrive there
by truck Holland has a pretty efficienthighway system but also has traffic jams
(we noticed the equivalent to our ColwoodCrawl in some cities) We also took note o
the consideration paid to cyclists by Dutchtransportation planners A special high-way overpass was constructed for cyclists
to pass over a section of freeway that wasbeing reconstructed near Oss ndash we havenrsquot
noticed that much consideration in BC
Cyclingin Holland
Our first impressions of Hollandwere not of bicycles but of the
modern efficient freeway systemfor cars and trucks But when we arrived
in Gouda bicycles were everywhere andfor good reason Holland is ldquoflat as a Dutchpannekoekrdquo so itrsquos easy to bike and old cit-
ies like Gouda have very narrow roads andlimited places for cars to drive and park
(residents require parking permits for theircars though most seem to own a car) We
saw cyclists of all ages ndash children business-
men and seniors riding Dutch-style bikes ndash high handlebars long wheelbase fullfenders enclosed chains built-in head- andtaillights and rear wheel locks and usually
equipped with huge panniersBike helmets are not mandatory in Hol-
land and only the Dutch sport bicycle rid-ers seem to favour wearing them Small
gas-powered motor scooters are also per-mitted on bike paths In Utrecht (3rd larg-est Dutch city) and Oss a smaller town
the downtowns are quite old so pedestrians
B i k e s i n H o l l a n d b y S h i r a t
s k i
b y N o r a h M
a c e y
Dutch farm roads near Oss Note the 2 bikelanes leaving room for only 1 car
Cyclists of all ages in Oss ndashnote they donrsquot ride single file
The bike in the foreground features an electric
motor on the front wheel ndash the battery is in the
chain guard and easily removed for overnight
charging The bike in the background is
specially made for the Dutch Post Office ndash single
speed but capable of carrying 40 kg of mail
10 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Cycling on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man is about the size of Saltspring Island but with a much
bigger population (86000) Besides tourism and agriculture thecountry is a tax haven and
most international banksinsurance companies and in-
vestment houses have offices
there Each year for over 100years the Isle of Man Tourist
Trophy or TT motorcycleraces have attracted spec-
tators Run on public roadsthey are very dangerous rac-
es We stayed 8km outsideof Douglas the main cityon the Isle and thought that
renting bicycles would be agreat way to get around during race week But after enjoying such easy
pedaling in Holland cycling on the Isle of Man was no joy and made usmore appreciative of the cycling infrastructure and amenities we have
in Greater VictoriaThere are plenty of cyclists on the Isle of Man such as Mark Cav-
endish the ldquoManx Missilerdquo and winner of 5 stages of this yearrsquos Giro
drsquoItalia The Isle also has lots of public trails that mountain bikers enjoyBut for commuter and recreational cycling other than a paved bike path
along the Promenade tourist area in Douglas there is nothing The roadsare narrow most have no sidewalks and many have hedges on both sides
so it can be unnerving to be pedaling or even walking on them Thereare plenty of hills as we found
when getting to and from ourhotel and of course we hadto adjust to riding on the left
and mounted our strap-onmirrors on our right handle-
bars We found that motoristswere generally courteous to
cyclists on Isle of ManOverall our travels to
Holland and Isle of Man made us appreciate how much better Greater
Victoriarsquos cycling amenities and infrastructure could be (like in Holland)and appreciate that what we have is far better than that in some other
countries like Isle of Man
NORAH MACEY is a GVCC member and part of the ThemeRides organizing committee Photos by Sam Macey
Biking in Europe
My life will never be the same For I havetasted the joy of bike lanes that donrsquot endcycling infrastructure everywhere and
traffic that patiently yields to bikes Yes itrsquos Co-penhagen MY element Getting to Copenhagenwas an adventure so I should start from the be-
ginningNine of us signed up for a 12 day ride from Ber-lin to Copenhagen during June 2013 ldquoRadwegrdquotook us over 700 kms through East Germanyto Denmark Germany has excellent bike pathsranging from hard packed gravel to concretetracks to pavement A few kms were on secondaryroads We rode with the birds through managedforests and on concrete tracks through farmersfields We also rode beside the sea canals andlakes Fragrance of linden trees wild roses andmock orange greeted us often
The ride was challenging with rolling hills andaverage distances of 60+ km Of course we had oneday of fierce head winds with rolling hills and adistance of 60 km to test our endurance
When the path took us to Denmark we cameacross more roads than in Germany But within30 km of Copenhagen those incredible bike lanesbegin Bike lanes are on every street and manyare raised about 6 inches from other lanes Bikeshave their own traffic lights of course In the coreof the city at major intersections bright blue lanesalert vehicles to yield to bikes And they do Mo-torists stop before turning right looking right forbikes Naturally bikes are allowed on subways andtrains and there are ramps to accommodate rath-
er than stairs Truly a cyclists dream Berlin wassimilarly bike friendly although with less desig-nated bike lanes
Anyone who likes to ride bike really ought totry cycling in Copenhagen Or broaden your ex-perience and ride from Berlin
JANET BESLER is a 10-year member of the GVCC andcurrently works with the themed rides committeeNewly retired she has the luxury of cycling more
B i k e s i n B e r l i n v i a F l i c k r c r e at i v e c o m m o n s
The cycle routefrom Berlin toCopenhagen
Marine Drive near Douglas is one of thebetter places to cycle on the Isle as carsare restricted
Racks full of bikes outside Oss train stationin Holland
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Itrsquos not just the traditional bike vacation orthe stereotype of a grubby loner cheapingout with a tent and a forestry campsite
but weekend riders with expensive bikes anda credit card looking for good food gooddrink and the mileage to earn the calories
Ten years ago I took a trip to the Seattle
Bike Show to promote Vancouver Island as acycling destination It was part of an initiativeenvisioned by Brian Hobson operations man-ager at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel who wasand still is years ahead of the curve
A thousand people flowed through thebooth I had with my marketing friend GeorgeAllen a fellow racer from the early days of thebike boom in the lsquo70s We designed a surveyand found what Brian had already discovered ndash bike holidays involved nice hotels cozy Band Brsquos and a more generous budget thanmost in the tourist industry assumed though
more are gaining that understandingIn the intervening years we produced a
couple of maps and struggling to find theformula to get it back into print itrsquos an ideathat has never gone away but seems like anidea whose time has really come
Event tourism is getting bigger withldquoGran Fondordquo events popping up in com-munities near and far ndash a couple in Victoriawhere hundreds or thousands for riders take
Cycling While that may
metaphor itrsquos
idays are in Y
trend across N
world Here to
Island or a shor
or the America
the steady stre
routes and trails
tracted by the
Victoria and S
the circle bette
La Route Verte Quebec by S Olmsted
Arbutus CoveGuest House
Te perfect overnightbike getaway from Victoria
and surrounding communities
Arbutus Cove is a beautiful waterfront bou-tique guest house located on the GallopingGoose trail 37 kilometers from Victoria onthe Sooke Basin a 3 hour ride
3 private deluxe rooms each with theirown entrances queen beds and full bath-rooms share a huge waterfront deck withhot tub await the cycling visitor
A 15 minute walk takes you to the 17 Mile
Pub for supper and a breakfast is servedbefore your departure
June 15 - Sept 14 $150 ( for 2)Sept 15 - June 14 $125 (for 2)
Reservations
wwwarbutuscoveguesthousecom
London England has aggressively increased cycling rates by
adding bike lanes cycle hire stations and recently committing to a $15 billion
10-year plan to create a complete cycling network in the city The mayor and
his team aim to ldquode-Lycra-fyrdquo cycling and get ldquonormal peoplerdquo on bikes as part
of every day life and the cityrsquos fabric ~The Guardian
Photos London bikeshare bikes ready for hire Shoreditch in use in Soho a
popular sticker commuters headed home and the view from a double deckerof bikes mixing with vehicle traffic in south London June 2013 by F Perryman 98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313712 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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e new golfng a little tired as a
e mark Active hol-
nd examples of a
rica and around the
oria and across the
y on the Gulf Islands
ans not to mention
yclists crowding the
ympic Peninsula at-
y of loop tours with
Most everyone likes
out and back ride)
Slickrock Trail Moab Utah by Trailsource
to the roads for day long loops of every roadthey can get local governments to carve offfor them The races out there are part of thatmarket too ndash they bring riders into a com-munity to fill up hotels and order dessertsat every turn They donrsquot just come to enjoythe ride they bring their 5000 calorie a day
appetites with them Do the mathVermontrsquos cycle tourism industry is big-
ger than maple syrup Nobody heard of Moabuntil mountain bikers made it a destinationVelo Quebec has created a powerhouse in-dustry around La Route Verte and createdthousands of jobs along with it The Okana-gan was in a panic when fire destroyed tres-tles along the Kettle Valley rail trail ndash Chamber of Commerce spokes-persons told anybody in themedia who would listen thatthe disaster could cost them
$5 million a year in lossesBack here in Victoria
we who see the world frombehind the handlebars haveknown for a long time whatan asset we have in our trailsnot just the roads and routesof the city and countryside Morethan a couple of million trips a year arerecorded on the Goose and Lochside Many
are of course local commuters but tens of thou-sands will be our visitor market or another sliceof the travel industry the local day traveler Thebakery in Sidney doesnrsquot care if the visitor isfrom Victoria or Virginia They just know thatsomeone on a bike discovered them on a bike
More are on the way The new EampN trail is
disjointed and incomplete but find your way oualong the corridor and you will see commutersand neighbourhood residents have already dis-covered what it has to offer The cycling touristswonrsquot be far behind if they arenrsquot there already
Before the Goose was done I was out explor-ing the emerging trail ndash no pavement no bridg-es no signs but the name had found its way to
New Zealand and some Kiwi on a bike wasstruggling up and down the slopes at
Wilkinson Rd where there is a trestlenow He wasnrsquot the first And moreclearly he was the very thin edge of
the wedge ndash a tsunami of riders iswashing up on our shores and wewould do well to make them feewelcome
JOHN LUTON is Executive Directorof Capital Bike and Walk which provides
consulting services on infrastructureand services for cycling and walking and
coordinates the Vancouver Island Cycle TourismAlliance to promote the Island as a cycling
destination He is a former president of the GVCC
a tsunamiof riders is
washing up onour shores
by JohnLuton
Kettle Valley BC by Spatialmongrel
theybring their
5000 caloriea day appetites with them Do
the math
Andalucia Spain The cities of southern Spain including Seville CordobaMalaga and Granada have taken their rate of cycling from nearly zero to more than double
that of Victoriarsquos Seville in 2006-7 added 120km of separated bike lanes and went from
5000 riders a day to over 72000 for a bike share of 7 ldquoSeville is now a cleaner
greener placeThe cycle lanes make it much easier to feel securerdquo
~ J Sanchez Seville
Photos L to R Sevici Bike share
in Seville (photo flickrcom)
separated bike lanes in Malaga
bike share outside Cordoba
train station tourism by bike -
Roman ruins in Malaga and a
local citizen in Malaga riding
its smooth flat routesPhotos
by F Perryman June 2013Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 13983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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W e in Victoria like to pride our-selves as a cycling destinationcity Indeed many visitors come
to Victoria to sample our cycle-friendli-ness Assets such as the Galloping Gooseand Lochside Trails a mild climate to cy-cle year-round our relative compactnessand our healthy active and sustainablelifestyle have all contributed to a vibrantcycling culture which many visitors haveadmired
Although I am bless-ed to live in a community
where it is fashionable tobike to the store the showor a coffee date as well aswork I have often won-dered if there are similarcities to ours where cy-cling is the thing to doand where people visit for the riding orculture
While reviewing a recent League ofAmerican Bicyclists commuter modeshare report (2010) 2 cities caught myattention Davis California with a 22mode share and Santa Barbara California
with 64 (For the record Greater Victo-ria is 59 the highest in Canada) SinceDavis is known historically as a cyclingcity and Santa Barbara is a popular train-ing ground for cycle racers I decided toexplore these cities for myself last May
Santa Barbara was my first stop Ar-riving by train from Los Angeles I no-ticed at least a dozen bikes passing the
station in my first 15 minuteshere Within hours of my
arrival I had a rental bike from SantaBarbara Bikes-to-Go all set up and wasgiven a tour of the city by Ralph Fer-tig a member of the SantaBarbara Bicycle Coalition(SBBC) While touring thecity I noticed that there is auniform look to many of thebuildings here all designed
in the Spanish adobe styleand fairly low rise (not ex-ceeding 6 stories)
Santa Barbara has some well-devel-oped bicycle facilities The best knownand most popular pathway is the Cabril-lo Boulevard bike path paralleling thebeachfront yielding tremendous viewsOn weekends this path can get busy withwalkers joggers in-line skaters and ofcourse cyclists Most cyclists are thoseon cruiser bikes enjoying a leisurely ride
Santa Barbara Countyhas 206 miles of bike lanes
and designated bike routesWhile some of these routesare well designed and con-venient other streets disap-pointingly have bike laneswhich permit cars to beparked in them during busi-
ness hours Other bike lanes are narrowlydesigned like those on State Street themain thoroughfare
Bike parking can also be an issuewhen parking downtown Most facilitiestend to accommodate cable lock parkingover u-lock parking as it may be more
convenient to carry these type of locksaround Unfortunately cable locks havetheir security shortcomings In additionmany public buildings down-town have the ldquowheel benderrdquokind of rack which not onlyprovides little protection fromtheft but could damage a bicy-clersquos wheels if knocked over For-tunately for commuters SantaBarbara has a Bikestation where
members can access secure bike parking247 as well as access repair facilitiesduring business hours
If there is hope for cy-cling facilities developmenin the future it can befound at the University oCalifornia Santa Barbarain suburban Goleta Sim
ilar to the University inVictoria in enrolment size(22000 students) the cam
pus looks very similar in layout to UVicminus the ring road Touring with UCSBPlanning Officer Steve Conner the cam-pus has rows and rows of bike parkingfor students many specifically designedto accommodate U-locks Bike paths areseparated from pedestrian traff ic and of-ten have roundabouts for traffic calmingAs the campus is 8 miles from Santa Bar-bara many of UCSBrsquos innovations havenot had any influence on Santa Barbararsquos
facilities development though this mayhopefully change with continued advoca-cy efforts from the SBBC
The main attractions for bicyclingvisitors to Santa Barbara are the bikepathways and scenic routes leading ouof town and into places such as Goletaand the Santa Ynez valley Pathways suchas the Coast Route and the Maria Ignacio Creek Route offer a safe and leisure-ly ride to Goleta Beach and the UCSBcampus The roads leading to Solvangand the Santa Ynez valley attract seriousroad riders as well as those who wish to
explore the vineyards of thatarea or view the
A TALE OFTWO CITIES
SANTA BARBARA
amp DAVIS CALIFORNIA
byDarrenMarr
PART 1 ndashSANTA BARBARA
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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scenes from the movie Sideways Ofcourse most visitors to the city renta bike or use a loaner from their hoteland ride along the Cabrillo Boulevardbike path
As for in-town attractions MissionSanta Barbara is a must if you are in-terested in the colonial history of thearea and the role of Catholic mission-aries in the development of California
society The Santa Barbara NaturalHistory Museum less than 1 km near-by has excellent exhibits on the landand marine wildlife plus indigenoussettlement of the area Though thereare bike friendly streets leading up tothe area be cautioned that the roadsleading there are hilly
Closer to downtown notable placesof interest include the Courthouse withits muraled courtrooms and bell tower
and the SantaBarbara Mu-seum of Art
both on StateStreet Closerto the beach-front you canfind the San-
ta Barbara Zoo Stearns Wharf withits shops and restaurants and ChasePalm Park with its turn of the centurycarousel If you are fortunate to be intown Tuesdays or Saturdays the San-ta Barbara Farmers Market has someof the finest organic produce fromaround Southern California
Overall Santa Barbara is a very
bikeable city with the Mediterraneanclimate and the compactness of the citycontributing to a vibrant cycling envi-ronment Thousands of people crowdedCabrillo Boulevard in mid-May to watchracers in the Amgen Tour De Californiapass through their community perhapsseeing a future Tour De France cham-pion in the making During the cityrsquosannual CycleMAYnia festival themedrides educational workshops and a bi-cycle fashion show dot the May calen-dar And with the cityrsquos bent on sustain-ability one is bound to find scores of
bicycles at the farmers marketsand at Earth Day celebrations
Makes you wonder if thecity had a few more mod-ern bicycle facilities justhow much more of a bi-cycle friendly communitySanta Barbara could po-tentially be
IF YOU GO
Please refer toRalph Fertigrsquosbicycle tour-ism websitebike-santabar-baraorg for in-formation ontours maps bi-cycle-friendly ac-commodation and bike rentals and shopsI found it to be an excellent resource on allthings cycling in Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalitionis located at 506 E Haley Street andhouses Bici Centro the non-profit bicy-cle repair and restoration shop operatedby the SBBC Programs run from theshop help support youth empowermentand cycling education outreach Web-site bicicentroorg
Did you know there is a GVCC inSanta Barbara The Goleta Valley Cy-cling Club (GVCC) holds recreationalrides around the Santa Barbara area 3times a week Check out their websitegoletabikeorg
Go by train Amtrakrsquos Pacific Sur-fliner route arrives from Los Angeles 5times daily There are bike racks on thetrain but they must be reserved in ad-vance You can also save 20 off yourfare by booking in advance Check outsantabarbaracarfreeorg
Thanks to Ralph Steve Kent Ep-person of Traffic Solutions and EdFrance SBBC Executive Director for
filling me in on the cycling advocacyscene in Santa Barbara
Next issue Part II DavisCalifornia
DARREN MARR is a past presidentof the GVCC and likes to explore
different cities by bike
Photos by D Marr
768 Yates Street Victoria downstairs from Lylersquos Pla
Cenote Restaurant and Loun
CyclistfriendlyGVCCmembersget 10off food
Just off the Goose thSelk Trest
Selkirk Station106-80 Regatta Landing l 250-383-1466
wwwselkirkstationcom
Sales - Service - Rentals - Tours
Elite Electric Bikes
Courtesy Bikes
wwwvictoriavelotechca
2002 Fernwood Road
Victoria BC V8T 2Y9
2509205520
infovictoriavelotechca
Vi
c
t
o
r
i
a
Ve
l
o
te
c
hPRO-SHOP
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 15
386-BIKE (24
1725 Quadra Street Victoria BC V8W 2Lwwwnorthparkbikeshopcom
Sales amp Repairs
10 OFFfor GVCC memb
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1624
W ork continues on constructing the EampN Rail Trail
along the EampN rail line from Victoria to LangfordThe trail is planned to eventually join with the future
Trans Canada Trail running north up Vancouver Island So faronly a few sections are officially open Given that trail construc-tion began in 2010 and is projected to take sev-eral more years to be fully completed now is agood time to consider the challenges in build-ing the Rail Trail
In January 2013 Scansa Construction wasawarded a $196 million contract by CRD for thesections between Colville and Admirals Roadand Maplebank Road (just east of the SongheesNation reserve) and between Hallowell Road
and Craigflower Road by the Four Mile Pub(just northwest of the Songhees reserve)Building the trail is much more than sim-
ply bulldozing trees and brush out of the wayand laying down a layer of asphalt Thereneeds to be a solid roadbed underneath the asphalt in order tohave a smooth level surface that is stable There also needs tobe a drainage system so that rain and surface water will not
wash out the trailIn some places there were large rock outcroppings
that needed to be removed by blasting Howeverthere are houses very close to ndash and in some
cases built on ndash these rock outcroppings so
the blasting had to be carefully controlled to prevent damage to
nearby buildings As well the trail needs to be relatively flatand this has meant bringing in crushed rock in some places tofill in the dips and gullies
In addition to constructing the trail Southern Vancouver Island Rail is installing signals at level rail crossings along the rail line including Intervale andHutchinson Roads in Esquimalt
These sections of the EampN Rail Trail on eitherside of the Songhees Nation reserve are expected tobe open this fall And while these may be helpful tosome bike commuters particularly those headingtoward CFB Esquimalt and the expanding Seaspanshipyards next door to CFB Esquimalt more work
remains to be doneThe short section between Wilson Street andEsquimalt Road in Vic West is still to be tackledalong with constructing a safe crossing for raitrail users at Esquimalt Road near Robert Street
Constructing the trail from the Old Island Highway to wesof Helmcken Road has not yet been scheduled Two bridges paralleling railway trestles (at the Old Island Highway
near the 4 Mile Pub and Helmcken Road in View Royal) wereconstructed to allow for the trail last year Construction of thelatter section of the rail trail would provide a level route towardthe West Shore Until this section of the trail is constructed cyclists wanting to use the new section of the trail that should open
EampN Rail ConstructionUpdate by Sam Macey
EampN Rail Trailsections shouldprovide manycommuters a
choice to use their
bikes rather thantheir cars
16 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1724
this summer will be faced with going up and over 4 Mile Hill
The Trail bypasses the Songhees Nation Reserve near Esqui-malt so cyclists will travel alongside Admirals Road betweenHallowell and Maplebank Roads to rejoin the Rail Trail This isa rather hilly detour from the level rail line
The Admirals RoadColville intersection was upgraded sev-eral years ago but little thought was given to adequately provid-ing for pedestrian and bike crossings
While lots of work remains to be done to fully complete theEampN Trail from east to west completion of these new sections
will be a change for the better Given all the residential develop
ment taking place on the Westshore these EampN Rail Trail sections should provide many commuters a choice to use their bikerather than their cars and thus avoid being stuck in the growingtraffic congestion that now sees both Old Island Highway andTrans Canada Highway traffic at a near standstill during morning and afternoon commutes
SAM MACEY is a GVCC Director anTheme Rides Committee leader
All photos by Sam Macey
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Cyclists and pedestrians crossing Admirals
Road at Colville will be a problem
2 Early work on the trail near Four Mile Hill
and Craigflower showing one of the drainage
problems
3 Rail Crossing control box by Hutchinson road
4 New drainage by trail
5 Removal of rock outcroppings
6 New paving new Hallowell The final result The
new trail has been built up and leveled proper
drainage lines were installed beneath the trail
surface
7 Mural on the navy drydock
8 New rock wall
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This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
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Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
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passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
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LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
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Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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First and foremost anyone can do cycle touring All you
need is a bicycle a sturdy luggage rack a pair of pan-
niers and a bungee cord to strap items to the back of
your bike Most people I talk to who have not done
cycle touring marvel at what great shape I must be in to
be able to cycle 100 kms in a day at which point I laugh
and inform them that cycling to work and the odd trip
to the Y are about all the exercise I usually get You donrsquotneed a great bike or to be in great shape to do cycle
touring Just give yourself plenty of time to get where
you are going
For my friends looking to take their rst cycling trip I
always recommend taking the Galloping Goose out to
the Sooke Potholes Campground for a night or two Itrsquos
only 50 km away on a very easy trail Therersquos lots to ex-
plore at the potholes including Leechtown the ghost
town about 7 km north of the Potholes where the Gal -
loping Goose Trail ends Just donrsquot forget to bring an
extra inner tube or two a pump and some tire leversin case you get a at along the rocky trail
For a more challenging trip hop the Mill Bay Ferry
and head up to Lake Cowichan via back roads or take
the Trans Canada Trail up from Shawnigan Lake (and
marvel at the beauty of Kinsol Trestle on your way
there) Alternatively take the Coho over to Port Ange-
les and head over to Port Townsend Be sure to take
the Olympic Discovery Trail between Port Angeles
and Sequim before getting on Highway 101 Take the
ferry to Whidbey Island and up to Anacortes (and over
the stunning Deception Pass) before catching the ferr y
back to SidneyGo to cyclevancouverislandca to check out lots of
things to do and places to visit on bike here on Vancou-
ver Island Finally check out warmshowersorg Itrsquos a free
worldwide hospitality exchange for cyclists Sign up to
get access to thousands of billet listings and offer your
own home up for touring cyclists
If you have some cycle touring stories from in and
around Greater Victoria and the surrounding area
send them to me at presidentgvccbcca and I will
post them on our website for others to check out and
either replicate your awesome experience or hopeful-ly avoid some of the pitfalls you may have encoun-
tered on your two-wheel journey
EDWARD PULLMAN is the GVCCpresident and avid cycle tourist
Downtown Victoria BC seen from Songhees point at
sunset on an August evening Photo by Felicity Perryman
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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A Salt Spring Island Gander
W
hatrsquos good for the Goose ndash ie cycling the Gallop-ing Goose Trail ndash has got to be good for the Gan-der ndash meaning spinning over the Salt Spring Islandsection of the emerging Salish Sea Regional Trail
Network The Salish Sea Regional Trail Network will ultimate-ly connect the Galloping Goose Lochside Trails Trans-Can-ada Trail Humpback and Cowichan Valley Regional TrailWhether yoursquore an experienced cyclist or newly venturing outSalt Springrsquos bound to be a memorable trip Itrsquos got it all Here
is a primer for your Salt SpringGander so you come prepared
Salt Spring Island has alwaysbeen a great place to visit wheth-er for a day trip to the FarmerrsquosMarket or for a weekend at a lo-cal Bed and Breakfast A groupof committed residents Island
Pathways is working to makethe Island more accessible forcyclists both locals and tourists
Yoursquoll most likely come by ferry Your little sea cruise willcost $200 extra the price of walking on with your bicycle If youhave a BC Ferries Experience card the fee is waived The solebenefit of this purchase is the privilege of parking your bicycleby a bow or stern rail Bicycles strapped to the back of vehiclestaking up deck space go for free Go figure
Chances are good yoursquoll meet a few cyclists on board Cyclingtraffic on Salt Spring sailings has increased approximately 12each of the last five years while motor traffic has declined overthe same period Cheers for you yoursquore pushing the wave Cha
up fellow pedallers find out if theyrsquore seasoned Salt Spring Is-land riders or intrepid newbies The formerwill tell you things worth knowing aboutcycling on island the latter may appreciatehearing some tips yoursquove picked up here
Wander the boat to find a big framedversion of Island Pathways award-win-ning ldquoHeritage Map with Bike RoutesrdquoItrsquos also posted by Rock Salt Restaurantat Fulford and by the Visitorsrsquo Centrein Ganges This map is a must-seefor its touring historic natural his-tory and geologic information For
those who want to read and learnfrom it itrsquos a must-have memen-to You can buy it for $850 atmany island stores or you canorder it from wwwisland-pathwaysca
From this map and theTrails BC map (trailsbccavancouver-island
by Brenda Guiled
Bike shop in Fulford Harbour by P Medved View of the Fulford Valley from Mount Maxwell by ProudlyDonut
Morningside Organic Cafe in Fulford Harbour by Nen222Saltspring fishing boat by NRTphotos
After walking your bike off the
ferry set yourinner clock to
island time
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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loops-journeyscowichan-salt-spring-180-km)you can plan your routes If yoursquore on the SwartzBay-Fulford Harbour ferry look for Salt SpringldquoShare the Roadrdquo brochures ndash another Island Path-ways initiative Keep one on hand for safety and con-tact information
Salt Springrsquos new Cycling Master Plan calls for a
bikeway along the main spine roads connecting thethree ferry terminals through the Ganges hub butthese are fast busy highways For quieter safer ridesyoursquod best take the peaceful back roads shown on theTrails BC map
After walking your bike off the ferry set your in-ner clock to island time ie donrsquot rush Wait until
the cars and trucks have cleared the boatand roared up the road Yoursquoll
see why you needthose stay-put min-utes when you hitthe pavementhellip be-
cause a lot of pave-ment is lacking on the
shouldersSalt Spring roads
are narrow windingand hilly plus most are in
rough shape from decadeswithout capital upgrades
Yoursquore definitely in the coun-try and on quiet stretches cy-
cling can be bucolic and restful comparedto staying wired for urban hazards
While you wonrsquot likely get doored onSalt Spring even in town on the busiesdays there are challenges aplenty tokeep you alert This includes sharingthe limited road space with drivers
fellow cyclists and deer The dangersand idiocies arenrsquot terribly commonbut they give something for locals
to gripe about Please be appropriately cau-tious and considerate without fail to maximize the safe-
ty and pleasure of your trip and leave a good vibe behind whenyoursquore gone
For amenities and things to do consult Island Pathways mapdo a web search including local media the Gulf Islands Drift-wood and Community Exchange pick up brochures aboard theferries ask around as you sail and when on island and stop at theVisitorsrsquo Centre in Ganges
While cycling on island yoursquoll encounter farm stands studios
to visit hiking possibilities and if yoursquore tuned and ready forthem serendipitous connections bound to make your trip espe-cially charmed in a very Salt Spring way
BRENDA GUILED is chair of Island Pathways a Salt SpringIsland non-profit thatrsquos been working to improve non
motorized transportation on Salt Spring Island for 25 yearsshe spearheads Island Pathways Bicycle Working Group
On the dock at Fulford by H Marsh Saturday farmers market in Ganges by SmallestBones
Ganges harbour by RJ RuppenthalBike shop in Ganges by ReshElectrons
S a l i s h S e
a T r a i l
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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dominate the narrow streets Trucks are permitted only be-
fore 10 am to re-supply the shops but there were parking lotsand bike racks nearby for cars and bikes It took a bit of time to
get accustomed to cycling along with the thousands of othercyclists on the roads and it became even more important to
carefully watch for other cyclists along with pedestrians andmotorized traff ic
There is a lot of new housing being constructed outside
of Utrecht and Oss The Dutch suburbs we saw all had great
cycling amenities We rode on many paved bike paths sepa-rate but alongside the roads for cars and trucks On many ofthe narrow farm roads there are marked
bike lanes on both sides of the road leav-ing only enough space for one car to drivebetween
In Doesburg about 60 km east of Osswe saw hundreds of bikes locked to the bike
racks near the train stations There werealso bike lockers at the stations and they
appeared fully occupied from morning toevening The likely reason Many Dutchpeople have two bikes ndash one to ride from
their residence to the train station and an-other at the other end to ride from there to
their work siteWhile there are lots of bikes and lots of
cycling infrastructure along with commut-er rail and bus services in Holland like
BC most families seem to own a car alongwith one or more bikes and virtually allthe goods available in stores arrive there
by truck Holland has a pretty efficienthighway system but also has traffic jams
(we noticed the equivalent to our ColwoodCrawl in some cities) We also took note o
the consideration paid to cyclists by Dutchtransportation planners A special high-way overpass was constructed for cyclists
to pass over a section of freeway that wasbeing reconstructed near Oss ndash we havenrsquot
noticed that much consideration in BC
Cyclingin Holland
Our first impressions of Hollandwere not of bicycles but of the
modern efficient freeway systemfor cars and trucks But when we arrived
in Gouda bicycles were everywhere andfor good reason Holland is ldquoflat as a Dutchpannekoekrdquo so itrsquos easy to bike and old cit-
ies like Gouda have very narrow roads andlimited places for cars to drive and park
(residents require parking permits for theircars though most seem to own a car) We
saw cyclists of all ages ndash children business-
men and seniors riding Dutch-style bikes ndash high handlebars long wheelbase fullfenders enclosed chains built-in head- andtaillights and rear wheel locks and usually
equipped with huge panniersBike helmets are not mandatory in Hol-
land and only the Dutch sport bicycle rid-ers seem to favour wearing them Small
gas-powered motor scooters are also per-mitted on bike paths In Utrecht (3rd larg-est Dutch city) and Oss a smaller town
the downtowns are quite old so pedestrians
B i k e s i n H o l l a n d b y S h i r a t
s k i
b y N o r a h M
a c e y
Dutch farm roads near Oss Note the 2 bikelanes leaving room for only 1 car
Cyclists of all ages in Oss ndashnote they donrsquot ride single file
The bike in the foreground features an electric
motor on the front wheel ndash the battery is in the
chain guard and easily removed for overnight
charging The bike in the background is
specially made for the Dutch Post Office ndash single
speed but capable of carrying 40 kg of mail
10 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Cycling on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man is about the size of Saltspring Island but with a much
bigger population (86000) Besides tourism and agriculture thecountry is a tax haven and
most international banksinsurance companies and in-
vestment houses have offices
there Each year for over 100years the Isle of Man Tourist
Trophy or TT motorcycleraces have attracted spec-
tators Run on public roadsthey are very dangerous rac-
es We stayed 8km outsideof Douglas the main cityon the Isle and thought that
renting bicycles would be agreat way to get around during race week But after enjoying such easy
pedaling in Holland cycling on the Isle of Man was no joy and made usmore appreciative of the cycling infrastructure and amenities we have
in Greater VictoriaThere are plenty of cyclists on the Isle of Man such as Mark Cav-
endish the ldquoManx Missilerdquo and winner of 5 stages of this yearrsquos Giro
drsquoItalia The Isle also has lots of public trails that mountain bikers enjoyBut for commuter and recreational cycling other than a paved bike path
along the Promenade tourist area in Douglas there is nothing The roadsare narrow most have no sidewalks and many have hedges on both sides
so it can be unnerving to be pedaling or even walking on them Thereare plenty of hills as we found
when getting to and from ourhotel and of course we hadto adjust to riding on the left
and mounted our strap-onmirrors on our right handle-
bars We found that motoristswere generally courteous to
cyclists on Isle of ManOverall our travels to
Holland and Isle of Man made us appreciate how much better Greater
Victoriarsquos cycling amenities and infrastructure could be (like in Holland)and appreciate that what we have is far better than that in some other
countries like Isle of Man
NORAH MACEY is a GVCC member and part of the ThemeRides organizing committee Photos by Sam Macey
Biking in Europe
My life will never be the same For I havetasted the joy of bike lanes that donrsquot endcycling infrastructure everywhere and
traffic that patiently yields to bikes Yes itrsquos Co-penhagen MY element Getting to Copenhagenwas an adventure so I should start from the be-
ginningNine of us signed up for a 12 day ride from Ber-lin to Copenhagen during June 2013 ldquoRadwegrdquotook us over 700 kms through East Germanyto Denmark Germany has excellent bike pathsranging from hard packed gravel to concretetracks to pavement A few kms were on secondaryroads We rode with the birds through managedforests and on concrete tracks through farmersfields We also rode beside the sea canals andlakes Fragrance of linden trees wild roses andmock orange greeted us often
The ride was challenging with rolling hills andaverage distances of 60+ km Of course we had oneday of fierce head winds with rolling hills and adistance of 60 km to test our endurance
When the path took us to Denmark we cameacross more roads than in Germany But within30 km of Copenhagen those incredible bike lanesbegin Bike lanes are on every street and manyare raised about 6 inches from other lanes Bikeshave their own traffic lights of course In the coreof the city at major intersections bright blue lanesalert vehicles to yield to bikes And they do Mo-torists stop before turning right looking right forbikes Naturally bikes are allowed on subways andtrains and there are ramps to accommodate rath-
er than stairs Truly a cyclists dream Berlin wassimilarly bike friendly although with less desig-nated bike lanes
Anyone who likes to ride bike really ought totry cycling in Copenhagen Or broaden your ex-perience and ride from Berlin
JANET BESLER is a 10-year member of the GVCC andcurrently works with the themed rides committeeNewly retired she has the luxury of cycling more
B i k e s i n B e r l i n v i a F l i c k r c r e at i v e c o m m o n s
The cycle routefrom Berlin toCopenhagen
Marine Drive near Douglas is one of thebetter places to cycle on the Isle as carsare restricted
Racks full of bikes outside Oss train stationin Holland
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Itrsquos not just the traditional bike vacation orthe stereotype of a grubby loner cheapingout with a tent and a forestry campsite
but weekend riders with expensive bikes anda credit card looking for good food gooddrink and the mileage to earn the calories
Ten years ago I took a trip to the Seattle
Bike Show to promote Vancouver Island as acycling destination It was part of an initiativeenvisioned by Brian Hobson operations man-ager at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel who wasand still is years ahead of the curve
A thousand people flowed through thebooth I had with my marketing friend GeorgeAllen a fellow racer from the early days of thebike boom in the lsquo70s We designed a surveyand found what Brian had already discovered ndash bike holidays involved nice hotels cozy Band Brsquos and a more generous budget thanmost in the tourist industry assumed though
more are gaining that understandingIn the intervening years we produced a
couple of maps and struggling to find theformula to get it back into print itrsquos an ideathat has never gone away but seems like anidea whose time has really come
Event tourism is getting bigger withldquoGran Fondordquo events popping up in com-munities near and far ndash a couple in Victoriawhere hundreds or thousands for riders take
Cycling While that may
metaphor itrsquos
idays are in Y
trend across N
world Here to
Island or a shor
or the America
the steady stre
routes and trails
tracted by the
Victoria and S
the circle bette
La Route Verte Quebec by S Olmsted
Arbutus CoveGuest House
Te perfect overnightbike getaway from Victoria
and surrounding communities
Arbutus Cove is a beautiful waterfront bou-tique guest house located on the GallopingGoose trail 37 kilometers from Victoria onthe Sooke Basin a 3 hour ride
3 private deluxe rooms each with theirown entrances queen beds and full bath-rooms share a huge waterfront deck withhot tub await the cycling visitor
A 15 minute walk takes you to the 17 Mile
Pub for supper and a breakfast is servedbefore your departure
June 15 - Sept 14 $150 ( for 2)Sept 15 - June 14 $125 (for 2)
Reservations
wwwarbutuscoveguesthousecom
London England has aggressively increased cycling rates by
adding bike lanes cycle hire stations and recently committing to a $15 billion
10-year plan to create a complete cycling network in the city The mayor and
his team aim to ldquode-Lycra-fyrdquo cycling and get ldquonormal peoplerdquo on bikes as part
of every day life and the cityrsquos fabric ~The Guardian
Photos London bikeshare bikes ready for hire Shoreditch in use in Soho a
popular sticker commuters headed home and the view from a double deckerof bikes mixing with vehicle traffic in south London June 2013 by F Perryman 98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313712 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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e new golfng a little tired as a
e mark Active hol-
nd examples of a
rica and around the
oria and across the
y on the Gulf Islands
ans not to mention
yclists crowding the
ympic Peninsula at-
y of loop tours with
Most everyone likes
out and back ride)
Slickrock Trail Moab Utah by Trailsource
to the roads for day long loops of every roadthey can get local governments to carve offfor them The races out there are part of thatmarket too ndash they bring riders into a com-munity to fill up hotels and order dessertsat every turn They donrsquot just come to enjoythe ride they bring their 5000 calorie a day
appetites with them Do the mathVermontrsquos cycle tourism industry is big-
ger than maple syrup Nobody heard of Moabuntil mountain bikers made it a destinationVelo Quebec has created a powerhouse in-dustry around La Route Verte and createdthousands of jobs along with it The Okana-gan was in a panic when fire destroyed tres-tles along the Kettle Valley rail trail ndash Chamber of Commerce spokes-persons told anybody in themedia who would listen thatthe disaster could cost them
$5 million a year in lossesBack here in Victoria
we who see the world frombehind the handlebars haveknown for a long time whatan asset we have in our trailsnot just the roads and routesof the city and countryside Morethan a couple of million trips a year arerecorded on the Goose and Lochside Many
are of course local commuters but tens of thou-sands will be our visitor market or another sliceof the travel industry the local day traveler Thebakery in Sidney doesnrsquot care if the visitor isfrom Victoria or Virginia They just know thatsomeone on a bike discovered them on a bike
More are on the way The new EampN trail is
disjointed and incomplete but find your way oualong the corridor and you will see commutersand neighbourhood residents have already dis-covered what it has to offer The cycling touristswonrsquot be far behind if they arenrsquot there already
Before the Goose was done I was out explor-ing the emerging trail ndash no pavement no bridg-es no signs but the name had found its way to
New Zealand and some Kiwi on a bike wasstruggling up and down the slopes at
Wilkinson Rd where there is a trestlenow He wasnrsquot the first And moreclearly he was the very thin edge of
the wedge ndash a tsunami of riders iswashing up on our shores and wewould do well to make them feewelcome
JOHN LUTON is Executive Directorof Capital Bike and Walk which provides
consulting services on infrastructureand services for cycling and walking and
coordinates the Vancouver Island Cycle TourismAlliance to promote the Island as a cycling
destination He is a former president of the GVCC
a tsunamiof riders is
washing up onour shores
by JohnLuton
Kettle Valley BC by Spatialmongrel
theybring their
5000 caloriea day appetites with them Do
the math
Andalucia Spain The cities of southern Spain including Seville CordobaMalaga and Granada have taken their rate of cycling from nearly zero to more than double
that of Victoriarsquos Seville in 2006-7 added 120km of separated bike lanes and went from
5000 riders a day to over 72000 for a bike share of 7 ldquoSeville is now a cleaner
greener placeThe cycle lanes make it much easier to feel securerdquo
~ J Sanchez Seville
Photos L to R Sevici Bike share
in Seville (photo flickrcom)
separated bike lanes in Malaga
bike share outside Cordoba
train station tourism by bike -
Roman ruins in Malaga and a
local citizen in Malaga riding
its smooth flat routesPhotos
by F Perryman June 2013Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 13983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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W e in Victoria like to pride our-selves as a cycling destinationcity Indeed many visitors come
to Victoria to sample our cycle-friendli-ness Assets such as the Galloping Gooseand Lochside Trails a mild climate to cy-cle year-round our relative compactnessand our healthy active and sustainablelifestyle have all contributed to a vibrantcycling culture which many visitors haveadmired
Although I am bless-ed to live in a community
where it is fashionable tobike to the store the showor a coffee date as well aswork I have often won-dered if there are similarcities to ours where cy-cling is the thing to doand where people visit for the riding orculture
While reviewing a recent League ofAmerican Bicyclists commuter modeshare report (2010) 2 cities caught myattention Davis California with a 22mode share and Santa Barbara California
with 64 (For the record Greater Victo-ria is 59 the highest in Canada) SinceDavis is known historically as a cyclingcity and Santa Barbara is a popular train-ing ground for cycle racers I decided toexplore these cities for myself last May
Santa Barbara was my first stop Ar-riving by train from Los Angeles I no-ticed at least a dozen bikes passing the
station in my first 15 minuteshere Within hours of my
arrival I had a rental bike from SantaBarbara Bikes-to-Go all set up and wasgiven a tour of the city by Ralph Fer-tig a member of the SantaBarbara Bicycle Coalition(SBBC) While touring thecity I noticed that there is auniform look to many of thebuildings here all designed
in the Spanish adobe styleand fairly low rise (not ex-ceeding 6 stories)
Santa Barbara has some well-devel-oped bicycle facilities The best knownand most popular pathway is the Cabril-lo Boulevard bike path paralleling thebeachfront yielding tremendous viewsOn weekends this path can get busy withwalkers joggers in-line skaters and ofcourse cyclists Most cyclists are thoseon cruiser bikes enjoying a leisurely ride
Santa Barbara Countyhas 206 miles of bike lanes
and designated bike routesWhile some of these routesare well designed and con-venient other streets disap-pointingly have bike laneswhich permit cars to beparked in them during busi-
ness hours Other bike lanes are narrowlydesigned like those on State Street themain thoroughfare
Bike parking can also be an issuewhen parking downtown Most facilitiestend to accommodate cable lock parkingover u-lock parking as it may be more
convenient to carry these type of locksaround Unfortunately cable locks havetheir security shortcomings In additionmany public buildings down-town have the ldquowheel benderrdquokind of rack which not onlyprovides little protection fromtheft but could damage a bicy-clersquos wheels if knocked over For-tunately for commuters SantaBarbara has a Bikestation where
members can access secure bike parking247 as well as access repair facilitiesduring business hours
If there is hope for cy-cling facilities developmenin the future it can befound at the University oCalifornia Santa Barbarain suburban Goleta Sim
ilar to the University inVictoria in enrolment size(22000 students) the cam
pus looks very similar in layout to UVicminus the ring road Touring with UCSBPlanning Officer Steve Conner the cam-pus has rows and rows of bike parkingfor students many specifically designedto accommodate U-locks Bike paths areseparated from pedestrian traff ic and of-ten have roundabouts for traffic calmingAs the campus is 8 miles from Santa Bar-bara many of UCSBrsquos innovations havenot had any influence on Santa Barbararsquos
facilities development though this mayhopefully change with continued advoca-cy efforts from the SBBC
The main attractions for bicyclingvisitors to Santa Barbara are the bikepathways and scenic routes leading ouof town and into places such as Goletaand the Santa Ynez valley Pathways suchas the Coast Route and the Maria Ignacio Creek Route offer a safe and leisure-ly ride to Goleta Beach and the UCSBcampus The roads leading to Solvangand the Santa Ynez valley attract seriousroad riders as well as those who wish to
explore the vineyards of thatarea or view the
A TALE OFTWO CITIES
SANTA BARBARA
amp DAVIS CALIFORNIA
byDarrenMarr
PART 1 ndashSANTA BARBARA
14 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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scenes from the movie Sideways Ofcourse most visitors to the city renta bike or use a loaner from their hoteland ride along the Cabrillo Boulevardbike path
As for in-town attractions MissionSanta Barbara is a must if you are in-terested in the colonial history of thearea and the role of Catholic mission-aries in the development of California
society The Santa Barbara NaturalHistory Museum less than 1 km near-by has excellent exhibits on the landand marine wildlife plus indigenoussettlement of the area Though thereare bike friendly streets leading up tothe area be cautioned that the roadsleading there are hilly
Closer to downtown notable placesof interest include the Courthouse withits muraled courtrooms and bell tower
and the SantaBarbara Mu-seum of Art
both on StateStreet Closerto the beach-front you canfind the San-
ta Barbara Zoo Stearns Wharf withits shops and restaurants and ChasePalm Park with its turn of the centurycarousel If you are fortunate to be intown Tuesdays or Saturdays the San-ta Barbara Farmers Market has someof the finest organic produce fromaround Southern California
Overall Santa Barbara is a very
bikeable city with the Mediterraneanclimate and the compactness of the citycontributing to a vibrant cycling envi-ronment Thousands of people crowdedCabrillo Boulevard in mid-May to watchracers in the Amgen Tour De Californiapass through their community perhapsseeing a future Tour De France cham-pion in the making During the cityrsquosannual CycleMAYnia festival themedrides educational workshops and a bi-cycle fashion show dot the May calen-dar And with the cityrsquos bent on sustain-ability one is bound to find scores of
bicycles at the farmers marketsand at Earth Day celebrations
Makes you wonder if thecity had a few more mod-ern bicycle facilities justhow much more of a bi-cycle friendly communitySanta Barbara could po-tentially be
IF YOU GO
Please refer toRalph Fertigrsquosbicycle tour-ism websitebike-santabar-baraorg for in-formation ontours maps bi-cycle-friendly ac-commodation and bike rentals and shopsI found it to be an excellent resource on allthings cycling in Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalitionis located at 506 E Haley Street andhouses Bici Centro the non-profit bicy-cle repair and restoration shop operatedby the SBBC Programs run from theshop help support youth empowermentand cycling education outreach Web-site bicicentroorg
Did you know there is a GVCC inSanta Barbara The Goleta Valley Cy-cling Club (GVCC) holds recreationalrides around the Santa Barbara area 3times a week Check out their websitegoletabikeorg
Go by train Amtrakrsquos Pacific Sur-fliner route arrives from Los Angeles 5times daily There are bike racks on thetrain but they must be reserved in ad-vance You can also save 20 off yourfare by booking in advance Check outsantabarbaracarfreeorg
Thanks to Ralph Steve Kent Ep-person of Traffic Solutions and EdFrance SBBC Executive Director for
filling me in on the cycling advocacyscene in Santa Barbara
Next issue Part II DavisCalifornia
DARREN MARR is a past presidentof the GVCC and likes to explore
different cities by bike
Photos by D Marr
768 Yates Street Victoria downstairs from Lylersquos Pla
Cenote Restaurant and Loun
CyclistfriendlyGVCCmembersget 10off food
Just off the Goose thSelk Trest
Selkirk Station106-80 Regatta Landing l 250-383-1466
wwwselkirkstationcom
Sales - Service - Rentals - Tours
Elite Electric Bikes
Courtesy Bikes
wwwvictoriavelotechca
2002 Fernwood Road
Victoria BC V8T 2Y9
2509205520
infovictoriavelotechca
Vi
c
t
o
r
i
a
Ve
l
o
te
c
hPRO-SHOP
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 15
386-BIKE (24
1725 Quadra Street Victoria BC V8W 2Lwwwnorthparkbikeshopcom
Sales amp Repairs
10 OFFfor GVCC memb
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1624
W ork continues on constructing the EampN Rail Trail
along the EampN rail line from Victoria to LangfordThe trail is planned to eventually join with the future
Trans Canada Trail running north up Vancouver Island So faronly a few sections are officially open Given that trail construc-tion began in 2010 and is projected to take sev-eral more years to be fully completed now is agood time to consider the challenges in build-ing the Rail Trail
In January 2013 Scansa Construction wasawarded a $196 million contract by CRD for thesections between Colville and Admirals Roadand Maplebank Road (just east of the SongheesNation reserve) and between Hallowell Road
and Craigflower Road by the Four Mile Pub(just northwest of the Songhees reserve)Building the trail is much more than sim-
ply bulldozing trees and brush out of the wayand laying down a layer of asphalt Thereneeds to be a solid roadbed underneath the asphalt in order tohave a smooth level surface that is stable There also needs tobe a drainage system so that rain and surface water will not
wash out the trailIn some places there were large rock outcroppings
that needed to be removed by blasting Howeverthere are houses very close to ndash and in some
cases built on ndash these rock outcroppings so
the blasting had to be carefully controlled to prevent damage to
nearby buildings As well the trail needs to be relatively flatand this has meant bringing in crushed rock in some places tofill in the dips and gullies
In addition to constructing the trail Southern Vancouver Island Rail is installing signals at level rail crossings along the rail line including Intervale andHutchinson Roads in Esquimalt
These sections of the EampN Rail Trail on eitherside of the Songhees Nation reserve are expected tobe open this fall And while these may be helpful tosome bike commuters particularly those headingtoward CFB Esquimalt and the expanding Seaspanshipyards next door to CFB Esquimalt more work
remains to be doneThe short section between Wilson Street andEsquimalt Road in Vic West is still to be tackledalong with constructing a safe crossing for raitrail users at Esquimalt Road near Robert Street
Constructing the trail from the Old Island Highway to wesof Helmcken Road has not yet been scheduled Two bridges paralleling railway trestles (at the Old Island Highway
near the 4 Mile Pub and Helmcken Road in View Royal) wereconstructed to allow for the trail last year Construction of thelatter section of the rail trail would provide a level route towardthe West Shore Until this section of the trail is constructed cyclists wanting to use the new section of the trail that should open
EampN Rail ConstructionUpdate by Sam Macey
EampN Rail Trailsections shouldprovide manycommuters a
choice to use their
bikes rather thantheir cars
16 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1724
this summer will be faced with going up and over 4 Mile Hill
The Trail bypasses the Songhees Nation Reserve near Esqui-malt so cyclists will travel alongside Admirals Road betweenHallowell and Maplebank Roads to rejoin the Rail Trail This isa rather hilly detour from the level rail line
The Admirals RoadColville intersection was upgraded sev-eral years ago but little thought was given to adequately provid-ing for pedestrian and bike crossings
While lots of work remains to be done to fully complete theEampN Trail from east to west completion of these new sections
will be a change for the better Given all the residential develop
ment taking place on the Westshore these EampN Rail Trail sections should provide many commuters a choice to use their bikerather than their cars and thus avoid being stuck in the growingtraffic congestion that now sees both Old Island Highway andTrans Canada Highway traffic at a near standstill during morning and afternoon commutes
SAM MACEY is a GVCC Director anTheme Rides Committee leader
All photos by Sam Macey
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Cyclists and pedestrians crossing Admirals
Road at Colville will be a problem
2 Early work on the trail near Four Mile Hill
and Craigflower showing one of the drainage
problems
3 Rail Crossing control box by Hutchinson road
4 New drainage by trail
5 Removal of rock outcroppings
6 New paving new Hallowell The final result The
new trail has been built up and leveled proper
drainage lines were installed beneath the trail
surface
7 Mural on the navy drydock
8 New rock wall
Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 17983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1824
This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
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Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313720 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
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passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2424
Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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A Salt Spring Island Gander
W
hatrsquos good for the Goose ndash ie cycling the Gallop-ing Goose Trail ndash has got to be good for the Gan-der ndash meaning spinning over the Salt Spring Islandsection of the emerging Salish Sea Regional Trail
Network The Salish Sea Regional Trail Network will ultimate-ly connect the Galloping Goose Lochside Trails Trans-Can-ada Trail Humpback and Cowichan Valley Regional TrailWhether yoursquore an experienced cyclist or newly venturing outSalt Springrsquos bound to be a memorable trip Itrsquos got it all Here
is a primer for your Salt SpringGander so you come prepared
Salt Spring Island has alwaysbeen a great place to visit wheth-er for a day trip to the FarmerrsquosMarket or for a weekend at a lo-cal Bed and Breakfast A groupof committed residents Island
Pathways is working to makethe Island more accessible forcyclists both locals and tourists
Yoursquoll most likely come by ferry Your little sea cruise willcost $200 extra the price of walking on with your bicycle If youhave a BC Ferries Experience card the fee is waived The solebenefit of this purchase is the privilege of parking your bicycleby a bow or stern rail Bicycles strapped to the back of vehiclestaking up deck space go for free Go figure
Chances are good yoursquoll meet a few cyclists on board Cyclingtraffic on Salt Spring sailings has increased approximately 12each of the last five years while motor traffic has declined overthe same period Cheers for you yoursquore pushing the wave Cha
up fellow pedallers find out if theyrsquore seasoned Salt Spring Is-land riders or intrepid newbies The formerwill tell you things worth knowing aboutcycling on island the latter may appreciatehearing some tips yoursquove picked up here
Wander the boat to find a big framedversion of Island Pathways award-win-ning ldquoHeritage Map with Bike RoutesrdquoItrsquos also posted by Rock Salt Restaurantat Fulford and by the Visitorsrsquo Centrein Ganges This map is a must-seefor its touring historic natural his-tory and geologic information For
those who want to read and learnfrom it itrsquos a must-have memen-to You can buy it for $850 atmany island stores or you canorder it from wwwisland-pathwaysca
From this map and theTrails BC map (trailsbccavancouver-island
by Brenda Guiled
Bike shop in Fulford Harbour by P Medved View of the Fulford Valley from Mount Maxwell by ProudlyDonut
Morningside Organic Cafe in Fulford Harbour by Nen222Saltspring fishing boat by NRTphotos
After walking your bike off the
ferry set yourinner clock to
island time
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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loops-journeyscowichan-salt-spring-180-km)you can plan your routes If yoursquore on the SwartzBay-Fulford Harbour ferry look for Salt SpringldquoShare the Roadrdquo brochures ndash another Island Path-ways initiative Keep one on hand for safety and con-tact information
Salt Springrsquos new Cycling Master Plan calls for a
bikeway along the main spine roads connecting thethree ferry terminals through the Ganges hub butthese are fast busy highways For quieter safer ridesyoursquod best take the peaceful back roads shown on theTrails BC map
After walking your bike off the ferry set your in-ner clock to island time ie donrsquot rush Wait until
the cars and trucks have cleared the boatand roared up the road Yoursquoll
see why you needthose stay-put min-utes when you hitthe pavementhellip be-
cause a lot of pave-ment is lacking on the
shouldersSalt Spring roads
are narrow windingand hilly plus most are in
rough shape from decadeswithout capital upgrades
Yoursquore definitely in the coun-try and on quiet stretches cy-
cling can be bucolic and restful comparedto staying wired for urban hazards
While you wonrsquot likely get doored onSalt Spring even in town on the busiesdays there are challenges aplenty tokeep you alert This includes sharingthe limited road space with drivers
fellow cyclists and deer The dangersand idiocies arenrsquot terribly commonbut they give something for locals
to gripe about Please be appropriately cau-tious and considerate without fail to maximize the safe-
ty and pleasure of your trip and leave a good vibe behind whenyoursquore gone
For amenities and things to do consult Island Pathways mapdo a web search including local media the Gulf Islands Drift-wood and Community Exchange pick up brochures aboard theferries ask around as you sail and when on island and stop at theVisitorsrsquo Centre in Ganges
While cycling on island yoursquoll encounter farm stands studios
to visit hiking possibilities and if yoursquore tuned and ready forthem serendipitous connections bound to make your trip espe-cially charmed in a very Salt Spring way
BRENDA GUILED is chair of Island Pathways a Salt SpringIsland non-profit thatrsquos been working to improve non
motorized transportation on Salt Spring Island for 25 yearsshe spearheads Island Pathways Bicycle Working Group
On the dock at Fulford by H Marsh Saturday farmers market in Ganges by SmallestBones
Ganges harbour by RJ RuppenthalBike shop in Ganges by ReshElectrons
S a l i s h S e
a T r a i l
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 9
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1024
dominate the narrow streets Trucks are permitted only be-
fore 10 am to re-supply the shops but there were parking lotsand bike racks nearby for cars and bikes It took a bit of time to
get accustomed to cycling along with the thousands of othercyclists on the roads and it became even more important to
carefully watch for other cyclists along with pedestrians andmotorized traff ic
There is a lot of new housing being constructed outside
of Utrecht and Oss The Dutch suburbs we saw all had great
cycling amenities We rode on many paved bike paths sepa-rate but alongside the roads for cars and trucks On many ofthe narrow farm roads there are marked
bike lanes on both sides of the road leav-ing only enough space for one car to drivebetween
In Doesburg about 60 km east of Osswe saw hundreds of bikes locked to the bike
racks near the train stations There werealso bike lockers at the stations and they
appeared fully occupied from morning toevening The likely reason Many Dutchpeople have two bikes ndash one to ride from
their residence to the train station and an-other at the other end to ride from there to
their work siteWhile there are lots of bikes and lots of
cycling infrastructure along with commut-er rail and bus services in Holland like
BC most families seem to own a car alongwith one or more bikes and virtually allthe goods available in stores arrive there
by truck Holland has a pretty efficienthighway system but also has traffic jams
(we noticed the equivalent to our ColwoodCrawl in some cities) We also took note o
the consideration paid to cyclists by Dutchtransportation planners A special high-way overpass was constructed for cyclists
to pass over a section of freeway that wasbeing reconstructed near Oss ndash we havenrsquot
noticed that much consideration in BC
Cyclingin Holland
Our first impressions of Hollandwere not of bicycles but of the
modern efficient freeway systemfor cars and trucks But when we arrived
in Gouda bicycles were everywhere andfor good reason Holland is ldquoflat as a Dutchpannekoekrdquo so itrsquos easy to bike and old cit-
ies like Gouda have very narrow roads andlimited places for cars to drive and park
(residents require parking permits for theircars though most seem to own a car) We
saw cyclists of all ages ndash children business-
men and seniors riding Dutch-style bikes ndash high handlebars long wheelbase fullfenders enclosed chains built-in head- andtaillights and rear wheel locks and usually
equipped with huge panniersBike helmets are not mandatory in Hol-
land and only the Dutch sport bicycle rid-ers seem to favour wearing them Small
gas-powered motor scooters are also per-mitted on bike paths In Utrecht (3rd larg-est Dutch city) and Oss a smaller town
the downtowns are quite old so pedestrians
B i k e s i n H o l l a n d b y S h i r a t
s k i
b y N o r a h M
a c e y
Dutch farm roads near Oss Note the 2 bikelanes leaving room for only 1 car
Cyclists of all ages in Oss ndashnote they donrsquot ride single file
The bike in the foreground features an electric
motor on the front wheel ndash the battery is in the
chain guard and easily removed for overnight
charging The bike in the background is
specially made for the Dutch Post Office ndash single
speed but capable of carrying 40 kg of mail
10 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Cycling on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man is about the size of Saltspring Island but with a much
bigger population (86000) Besides tourism and agriculture thecountry is a tax haven and
most international banksinsurance companies and in-
vestment houses have offices
there Each year for over 100years the Isle of Man Tourist
Trophy or TT motorcycleraces have attracted spec-
tators Run on public roadsthey are very dangerous rac-
es We stayed 8km outsideof Douglas the main cityon the Isle and thought that
renting bicycles would be agreat way to get around during race week But after enjoying such easy
pedaling in Holland cycling on the Isle of Man was no joy and made usmore appreciative of the cycling infrastructure and amenities we have
in Greater VictoriaThere are plenty of cyclists on the Isle of Man such as Mark Cav-
endish the ldquoManx Missilerdquo and winner of 5 stages of this yearrsquos Giro
drsquoItalia The Isle also has lots of public trails that mountain bikers enjoyBut for commuter and recreational cycling other than a paved bike path
along the Promenade tourist area in Douglas there is nothing The roadsare narrow most have no sidewalks and many have hedges on both sides
so it can be unnerving to be pedaling or even walking on them Thereare plenty of hills as we found
when getting to and from ourhotel and of course we hadto adjust to riding on the left
and mounted our strap-onmirrors on our right handle-
bars We found that motoristswere generally courteous to
cyclists on Isle of ManOverall our travels to
Holland and Isle of Man made us appreciate how much better Greater
Victoriarsquos cycling amenities and infrastructure could be (like in Holland)and appreciate that what we have is far better than that in some other
countries like Isle of Man
NORAH MACEY is a GVCC member and part of the ThemeRides organizing committee Photos by Sam Macey
Biking in Europe
My life will never be the same For I havetasted the joy of bike lanes that donrsquot endcycling infrastructure everywhere and
traffic that patiently yields to bikes Yes itrsquos Co-penhagen MY element Getting to Copenhagenwas an adventure so I should start from the be-
ginningNine of us signed up for a 12 day ride from Ber-lin to Copenhagen during June 2013 ldquoRadwegrdquotook us over 700 kms through East Germanyto Denmark Germany has excellent bike pathsranging from hard packed gravel to concretetracks to pavement A few kms were on secondaryroads We rode with the birds through managedforests and on concrete tracks through farmersfields We also rode beside the sea canals andlakes Fragrance of linden trees wild roses andmock orange greeted us often
The ride was challenging with rolling hills andaverage distances of 60+ km Of course we had oneday of fierce head winds with rolling hills and adistance of 60 km to test our endurance
When the path took us to Denmark we cameacross more roads than in Germany But within30 km of Copenhagen those incredible bike lanesbegin Bike lanes are on every street and manyare raised about 6 inches from other lanes Bikeshave their own traffic lights of course In the coreof the city at major intersections bright blue lanesalert vehicles to yield to bikes And they do Mo-torists stop before turning right looking right forbikes Naturally bikes are allowed on subways andtrains and there are ramps to accommodate rath-
er than stairs Truly a cyclists dream Berlin wassimilarly bike friendly although with less desig-nated bike lanes
Anyone who likes to ride bike really ought totry cycling in Copenhagen Or broaden your ex-perience and ride from Berlin
JANET BESLER is a 10-year member of the GVCC andcurrently works with the themed rides committeeNewly retired she has the luxury of cycling more
B i k e s i n B e r l i n v i a F l i c k r c r e at i v e c o m m o n s
The cycle routefrom Berlin toCopenhagen
Marine Drive near Douglas is one of thebetter places to cycle on the Isle as carsare restricted
Racks full of bikes outside Oss train stationin Holland
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 1
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Itrsquos not just the traditional bike vacation orthe stereotype of a grubby loner cheapingout with a tent and a forestry campsite
but weekend riders with expensive bikes anda credit card looking for good food gooddrink and the mileage to earn the calories
Ten years ago I took a trip to the Seattle
Bike Show to promote Vancouver Island as acycling destination It was part of an initiativeenvisioned by Brian Hobson operations man-ager at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel who wasand still is years ahead of the curve
A thousand people flowed through thebooth I had with my marketing friend GeorgeAllen a fellow racer from the early days of thebike boom in the lsquo70s We designed a surveyand found what Brian had already discovered ndash bike holidays involved nice hotels cozy Band Brsquos and a more generous budget thanmost in the tourist industry assumed though
more are gaining that understandingIn the intervening years we produced a
couple of maps and struggling to find theformula to get it back into print itrsquos an ideathat has never gone away but seems like anidea whose time has really come
Event tourism is getting bigger withldquoGran Fondordquo events popping up in com-munities near and far ndash a couple in Victoriawhere hundreds or thousands for riders take
Cycling While that may
metaphor itrsquos
idays are in Y
trend across N
world Here to
Island or a shor
or the America
the steady stre
routes and trails
tracted by the
Victoria and S
the circle bette
La Route Verte Quebec by S Olmsted
Arbutus CoveGuest House
Te perfect overnightbike getaway from Victoria
and surrounding communities
Arbutus Cove is a beautiful waterfront bou-tique guest house located on the GallopingGoose trail 37 kilometers from Victoria onthe Sooke Basin a 3 hour ride
3 private deluxe rooms each with theirown entrances queen beds and full bath-rooms share a huge waterfront deck withhot tub await the cycling visitor
A 15 minute walk takes you to the 17 Mile
Pub for supper and a breakfast is servedbefore your departure
June 15 - Sept 14 $150 ( for 2)Sept 15 - June 14 $125 (for 2)
Reservations
wwwarbutuscoveguesthousecom
London England has aggressively increased cycling rates by
adding bike lanes cycle hire stations and recently committing to a $15 billion
10-year plan to create a complete cycling network in the city The mayor and
his team aim to ldquode-Lycra-fyrdquo cycling and get ldquonormal peoplerdquo on bikes as part
of every day life and the cityrsquos fabric ~The Guardian
Photos London bikeshare bikes ready for hire Shoreditch in use in Soho a
popular sticker commuters headed home and the view from a double deckerof bikes mixing with vehicle traffic in south London June 2013 by F Perryman 98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313712 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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e new golfng a little tired as a
e mark Active hol-
nd examples of a
rica and around the
oria and across the
y on the Gulf Islands
ans not to mention
yclists crowding the
ympic Peninsula at-
y of loop tours with
Most everyone likes
out and back ride)
Slickrock Trail Moab Utah by Trailsource
to the roads for day long loops of every roadthey can get local governments to carve offfor them The races out there are part of thatmarket too ndash they bring riders into a com-munity to fill up hotels and order dessertsat every turn They donrsquot just come to enjoythe ride they bring their 5000 calorie a day
appetites with them Do the mathVermontrsquos cycle tourism industry is big-
ger than maple syrup Nobody heard of Moabuntil mountain bikers made it a destinationVelo Quebec has created a powerhouse in-dustry around La Route Verte and createdthousands of jobs along with it The Okana-gan was in a panic when fire destroyed tres-tles along the Kettle Valley rail trail ndash Chamber of Commerce spokes-persons told anybody in themedia who would listen thatthe disaster could cost them
$5 million a year in lossesBack here in Victoria
we who see the world frombehind the handlebars haveknown for a long time whatan asset we have in our trailsnot just the roads and routesof the city and countryside Morethan a couple of million trips a year arerecorded on the Goose and Lochside Many
are of course local commuters but tens of thou-sands will be our visitor market or another sliceof the travel industry the local day traveler Thebakery in Sidney doesnrsquot care if the visitor isfrom Victoria or Virginia They just know thatsomeone on a bike discovered them on a bike
More are on the way The new EampN trail is
disjointed and incomplete but find your way oualong the corridor and you will see commutersand neighbourhood residents have already dis-covered what it has to offer The cycling touristswonrsquot be far behind if they arenrsquot there already
Before the Goose was done I was out explor-ing the emerging trail ndash no pavement no bridg-es no signs but the name had found its way to
New Zealand and some Kiwi on a bike wasstruggling up and down the slopes at
Wilkinson Rd where there is a trestlenow He wasnrsquot the first And moreclearly he was the very thin edge of
the wedge ndash a tsunami of riders iswashing up on our shores and wewould do well to make them feewelcome
JOHN LUTON is Executive Directorof Capital Bike and Walk which provides
consulting services on infrastructureand services for cycling and walking and
coordinates the Vancouver Island Cycle TourismAlliance to promote the Island as a cycling
destination He is a former president of the GVCC
a tsunamiof riders is
washing up onour shores
by JohnLuton
Kettle Valley BC by Spatialmongrel
theybring their
5000 caloriea day appetites with them Do
the math
Andalucia Spain The cities of southern Spain including Seville CordobaMalaga and Granada have taken their rate of cycling from nearly zero to more than double
that of Victoriarsquos Seville in 2006-7 added 120km of separated bike lanes and went from
5000 riders a day to over 72000 for a bike share of 7 ldquoSeville is now a cleaner
greener placeThe cycle lanes make it much easier to feel securerdquo
~ J Sanchez Seville
Photos L to R Sevici Bike share
in Seville (photo flickrcom)
separated bike lanes in Malaga
bike share outside Cordoba
train station tourism by bike -
Roman ruins in Malaga and a
local citizen in Malaga riding
its smooth flat routesPhotos
by F Perryman June 2013Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 13983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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W e in Victoria like to pride our-selves as a cycling destinationcity Indeed many visitors come
to Victoria to sample our cycle-friendli-ness Assets such as the Galloping Gooseand Lochside Trails a mild climate to cy-cle year-round our relative compactnessand our healthy active and sustainablelifestyle have all contributed to a vibrantcycling culture which many visitors haveadmired
Although I am bless-ed to live in a community
where it is fashionable tobike to the store the showor a coffee date as well aswork I have often won-dered if there are similarcities to ours where cy-cling is the thing to doand where people visit for the riding orculture
While reviewing a recent League ofAmerican Bicyclists commuter modeshare report (2010) 2 cities caught myattention Davis California with a 22mode share and Santa Barbara California
with 64 (For the record Greater Victo-ria is 59 the highest in Canada) SinceDavis is known historically as a cyclingcity and Santa Barbara is a popular train-ing ground for cycle racers I decided toexplore these cities for myself last May
Santa Barbara was my first stop Ar-riving by train from Los Angeles I no-ticed at least a dozen bikes passing the
station in my first 15 minuteshere Within hours of my
arrival I had a rental bike from SantaBarbara Bikes-to-Go all set up and wasgiven a tour of the city by Ralph Fer-tig a member of the SantaBarbara Bicycle Coalition(SBBC) While touring thecity I noticed that there is auniform look to many of thebuildings here all designed
in the Spanish adobe styleand fairly low rise (not ex-ceeding 6 stories)
Santa Barbara has some well-devel-oped bicycle facilities The best knownand most popular pathway is the Cabril-lo Boulevard bike path paralleling thebeachfront yielding tremendous viewsOn weekends this path can get busy withwalkers joggers in-line skaters and ofcourse cyclists Most cyclists are thoseon cruiser bikes enjoying a leisurely ride
Santa Barbara Countyhas 206 miles of bike lanes
and designated bike routesWhile some of these routesare well designed and con-venient other streets disap-pointingly have bike laneswhich permit cars to beparked in them during busi-
ness hours Other bike lanes are narrowlydesigned like those on State Street themain thoroughfare
Bike parking can also be an issuewhen parking downtown Most facilitiestend to accommodate cable lock parkingover u-lock parking as it may be more
convenient to carry these type of locksaround Unfortunately cable locks havetheir security shortcomings In additionmany public buildings down-town have the ldquowheel benderrdquokind of rack which not onlyprovides little protection fromtheft but could damage a bicy-clersquos wheels if knocked over For-tunately for commuters SantaBarbara has a Bikestation where
members can access secure bike parking247 as well as access repair facilitiesduring business hours
If there is hope for cy-cling facilities developmenin the future it can befound at the University oCalifornia Santa Barbarain suburban Goleta Sim
ilar to the University inVictoria in enrolment size(22000 students) the cam
pus looks very similar in layout to UVicminus the ring road Touring with UCSBPlanning Officer Steve Conner the cam-pus has rows and rows of bike parkingfor students many specifically designedto accommodate U-locks Bike paths areseparated from pedestrian traff ic and of-ten have roundabouts for traffic calmingAs the campus is 8 miles from Santa Bar-bara many of UCSBrsquos innovations havenot had any influence on Santa Barbararsquos
facilities development though this mayhopefully change with continued advoca-cy efforts from the SBBC
The main attractions for bicyclingvisitors to Santa Barbara are the bikepathways and scenic routes leading ouof town and into places such as Goletaand the Santa Ynez valley Pathways suchas the Coast Route and the Maria Ignacio Creek Route offer a safe and leisure-ly ride to Goleta Beach and the UCSBcampus The roads leading to Solvangand the Santa Ynez valley attract seriousroad riders as well as those who wish to
explore the vineyards of thatarea or view the
A TALE OFTWO CITIES
SANTA BARBARA
amp DAVIS CALIFORNIA
byDarrenMarr
PART 1 ndashSANTA BARBARA
14 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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scenes from the movie Sideways Ofcourse most visitors to the city renta bike or use a loaner from their hoteland ride along the Cabrillo Boulevardbike path
As for in-town attractions MissionSanta Barbara is a must if you are in-terested in the colonial history of thearea and the role of Catholic mission-aries in the development of California
society The Santa Barbara NaturalHistory Museum less than 1 km near-by has excellent exhibits on the landand marine wildlife plus indigenoussettlement of the area Though thereare bike friendly streets leading up tothe area be cautioned that the roadsleading there are hilly
Closer to downtown notable placesof interest include the Courthouse withits muraled courtrooms and bell tower
and the SantaBarbara Mu-seum of Art
both on StateStreet Closerto the beach-front you canfind the San-
ta Barbara Zoo Stearns Wharf withits shops and restaurants and ChasePalm Park with its turn of the centurycarousel If you are fortunate to be intown Tuesdays or Saturdays the San-ta Barbara Farmers Market has someof the finest organic produce fromaround Southern California
Overall Santa Barbara is a very
bikeable city with the Mediterraneanclimate and the compactness of the citycontributing to a vibrant cycling envi-ronment Thousands of people crowdedCabrillo Boulevard in mid-May to watchracers in the Amgen Tour De Californiapass through their community perhapsseeing a future Tour De France cham-pion in the making During the cityrsquosannual CycleMAYnia festival themedrides educational workshops and a bi-cycle fashion show dot the May calen-dar And with the cityrsquos bent on sustain-ability one is bound to find scores of
bicycles at the farmers marketsand at Earth Day celebrations
Makes you wonder if thecity had a few more mod-ern bicycle facilities justhow much more of a bi-cycle friendly communitySanta Barbara could po-tentially be
IF YOU GO
Please refer toRalph Fertigrsquosbicycle tour-ism websitebike-santabar-baraorg for in-formation ontours maps bi-cycle-friendly ac-commodation and bike rentals and shopsI found it to be an excellent resource on allthings cycling in Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalitionis located at 506 E Haley Street andhouses Bici Centro the non-profit bicy-cle repair and restoration shop operatedby the SBBC Programs run from theshop help support youth empowermentand cycling education outreach Web-site bicicentroorg
Did you know there is a GVCC inSanta Barbara The Goleta Valley Cy-cling Club (GVCC) holds recreationalrides around the Santa Barbara area 3times a week Check out their websitegoletabikeorg
Go by train Amtrakrsquos Pacific Sur-fliner route arrives from Los Angeles 5times daily There are bike racks on thetrain but they must be reserved in ad-vance You can also save 20 off yourfare by booking in advance Check outsantabarbaracarfreeorg
Thanks to Ralph Steve Kent Ep-person of Traffic Solutions and EdFrance SBBC Executive Director for
filling me in on the cycling advocacyscene in Santa Barbara
Next issue Part II DavisCalifornia
DARREN MARR is a past presidentof the GVCC and likes to explore
different cities by bike
Photos by D Marr
768 Yates Street Victoria downstairs from Lylersquos Pla
Cenote Restaurant and Loun
CyclistfriendlyGVCCmembersget 10off food
Just off the Goose thSelk Trest
Selkirk Station106-80 Regatta Landing l 250-383-1466
wwwselkirkstationcom
Sales - Service - Rentals - Tours
Elite Electric Bikes
Courtesy Bikes
wwwvictoriavelotechca
2002 Fernwood Road
Victoria BC V8T 2Y9
2509205520
infovictoriavelotechca
Vi
c
t
o
r
i
a
Ve
l
o
te
c
hPRO-SHOP
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 15
386-BIKE (24
1725 Quadra Street Victoria BC V8W 2Lwwwnorthparkbikeshopcom
Sales amp Repairs
10 OFFfor GVCC memb
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1624
W ork continues on constructing the EampN Rail Trail
along the EampN rail line from Victoria to LangfordThe trail is planned to eventually join with the future
Trans Canada Trail running north up Vancouver Island So faronly a few sections are officially open Given that trail construc-tion began in 2010 and is projected to take sev-eral more years to be fully completed now is agood time to consider the challenges in build-ing the Rail Trail
In January 2013 Scansa Construction wasawarded a $196 million contract by CRD for thesections between Colville and Admirals Roadand Maplebank Road (just east of the SongheesNation reserve) and between Hallowell Road
and Craigflower Road by the Four Mile Pub(just northwest of the Songhees reserve)Building the trail is much more than sim-
ply bulldozing trees and brush out of the wayand laying down a layer of asphalt Thereneeds to be a solid roadbed underneath the asphalt in order tohave a smooth level surface that is stable There also needs tobe a drainage system so that rain and surface water will not
wash out the trailIn some places there were large rock outcroppings
that needed to be removed by blasting Howeverthere are houses very close to ndash and in some
cases built on ndash these rock outcroppings so
the blasting had to be carefully controlled to prevent damage to
nearby buildings As well the trail needs to be relatively flatand this has meant bringing in crushed rock in some places tofill in the dips and gullies
In addition to constructing the trail Southern Vancouver Island Rail is installing signals at level rail crossings along the rail line including Intervale andHutchinson Roads in Esquimalt
These sections of the EampN Rail Trail on eitherside of the Songhees Nation reserve are expected tobe open this fall And while these may be helpful tosome bike commuters particularly those headingtoward CFB Esquimalt and the expanding Seaspanshipyards next door to CFB Esquimalt more work
remains to be doneThe short section between Wilson Street andEsquimalt Road in Vic West is still to be tackledalong with constructing a safe crossing for raitrail users at Esquimalt Road near Robert Street
Constructing the trail from the Old Island Highway to wesof Helmcken Road has not yet been scheduled Two bridges paralleling railway trestles (at the Old Island Highway
near the 4 Mile Pub and Helmcken Road in View Royal) wereconstructed to allow for the trail last year Construction of thelatter section of the rail trail would provide a level route towardthe West Shore Until this section of the trail is constructed cyclists wanting to use the new section of the trail that should open
EampN Rail ConstructionUpdate by Sam Macey
EampN Rail Trailsections shouldprovide manycommuters a
choice to use their
bikes rather thantheir cars
16 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1724
this summer will be faced with going up and over 4 Mile Hill
The Trail bypasses the Songhees Nation Reserve near Esqui-malt so cyclists will travel alongside Admirals Road betweenHallowell and Maplebank Roads to rejoin the Rail Trail This isa rather hilly detour from the level rail line
The Admirals RoadColville intersection was upgraded sev-eral years ago but little thought was given to adequately provid-ing for pedestrian and bike crossings
While lots of work remains to be done to fully complete theEampN Trail from east to west completion of these new sections
will be a change for the better Given all the residential develop
ment taking place on the Westshore these EampN Rail Trail sections should provide many commuters a choice to use their bikerather than their cars and thus avoid being stuck in the growingtraffic congestion that now sees both Old Island Highway andTrans Canada Highway traffic at a near standstill during morning and afternoon commutes
SAM MACEY is a GVCC Director anTheme Rides Committee leader
All photos by Sam Macey
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Cyclists and pedestrians crossing Admirals
Road at Colville will be a problem
2 Early work on the trail near Four Mile Hill
and Craigflower showing one of the drainage
problems
3 Rail Crossing control box by Hutchinson road
4 New drainage by trail
5 Removal of rock outcroppings
6 New paving new Hallowell The final result The
new trail has been built up and leveled proper
drainage lines were installed beneath the trail
surface
7 Mural on the navy drydock
8 New rock wall
Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 17983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1824
This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
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Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
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passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2424
Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 924
loops-journeyscowichan-salt-spring-180-km)you can plan your routes If yoursquore on the SwartzBay-Fulford Harbour ferry look for Salt SpringldquoShare the Roadrdquo brochures ndash another Island Path-ways initiative Keep one on hand for safety and con-tact information
Salt Springrsquos new Cycling Master Plan calls for a
bikeway along the main spine roads connecting thethree ferry terminals through the Ganges hub butthese are fast busy highways For quieter safer ridesyoursquod best take the peaceful back roads shown on theTrails BC map
After walking your bike off the ferry set your in-ner clock to island time ie donrsquot rush Wait until
the cars and trucks have cleared the boatand roared up the road Yoursquoll
see why you needthose stay-put min-utes when you hitthe pavementhellip be-
cause a lot of pave-ment is lacking on the
shouldersSalt Spring roads
are narrow windingand hilly plus most are in
rough shape from decadeswithout capital upgrades
Yoursquore definitely in the coun-try and on quiet stretches cy-
cling can be bucolic and restful comparedto staying wired for urban hazards
While you wonrsquot likely get doored onSalt Spring even in town on the busiesdays there are challenges aplenty tokeep you alert This includes sharingthe limited road space with drivers
fellow cyclists and deer The dangersand idiocies arenrsquot terribly commonbut they give something for locals
to gripe about Please be appropriately cau-tious and considerate without fail to maximize the safe-
ty and pleasure of your trip and leave a good vibe behind whenyoursquore gone
For amenities and things to do consult Island Pathways mapdo a web search including local media the Gulf Islands Drift-wood and Community Exchange pick up brochures aboard theferries ask around as you sail and when on island and stop at theVisitorsrsquo Centre in Ganges
While cycling on island yoursquoll encounter farm stands studios
to visit hiking possibilities and if yoursquore tuned and ready forthem serendipitous connections bound to make your trip espe-cially charmed in a very Salt Spring way
BRENDA GUILED is chair of Island Pathways a Salt SpringIsland non-profit thatrsquos been working to improve non
motorized transportation on Salt Spring Island for 25 yearsshe spearheads Island Pathways Bicycle Working Group
On the dock at Fulford by H Marsh Saturday farmers market in Ganges by SmallestBones
Ganges harbour by RJ RuppenthalBike shop in Ganges by ReshElectrons
S a l i s h S e
a T r a i l
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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dominate the narrow streets Trucks are permitted only be-
fore 10 am to re-supply the shops but there were parking lotsand bike racks nearby for cars and bikes It took a bit of time to
get accustomed to cycling along with the thousands of othercyclists on the roads and it became even more important to
carefully watch for other cyclists along with pedestrians andmotorized traff ic
There is a lot of new housing being constructed outside
of Utrecht and Oss The Dutch suburbs we saw all had great
cycling amenities We rode on many paved bike paths sepa-rate but alongside the roads for cars and trucks On many ofthe narrow farm roads there are marked
bike lanes on both sides of the road leav-ing only enough space for one car to drivebetween
In Doesburg about 60 km east of Osswe saw hundreds of bikes locked to the bike
racks near the train stations There werealso bike lockers at the stations and they
appeared fully occupied from morning toevening The likely reason Many Dutchpeople have two bikes ndash one to ride from
their residence to the train station and an-other at the other end to ride from there to
their work siteWhile there are lots of bikes and lots of
cycling infrastructure along with commut-er rail and bus services in Holland like
BC most families seem to own a car alongwith one or more bikes and virtually allthe goods available in stores arrive there
by truck Holland has a pretty efficienthighway system but also has traffic jams
(we noticed the equivalent to our ColwoodCrawl in some cities) We also took note o
the consideration paid to cyclists by Dutchtransportation planners A special high-way overpass was constructed for cyclists
to pass over a section of freeway that wasbeing reconstructed near Oss ndash we havenrsquot
noticed that much consideration in BC
Cyclingin Holland
Our first impressions of Hollandwere not of bicycles but of the
modern efficient freeway systemfor cars and trucks But when we arrived
in Gouda bicycles were everywhere andfor good reason Holland is ldquoflat as a Dutchpannekoekrdquo so itrsquos easy to bike and old cit-
ies like Gouda have very narrow roads andlimited places for cars to drive and park
(residents require parking permits for theircars though most seem to own a car) We
saw cyclists of all ages ndash children business-
men and seniors riding Dutch-style bikes ndash high handlebars long wheelbase fullfenders enclosed chains built-in head- andtaillights and rear wheel locks and usually
equipped with huge panniersBike helmets are not mandatory in Hol-
land and only the Dutch sport bicycle rid-ers seem to favour wearing them Small
gas-powered motor scooters are also per-mitted on bike paths In Utrecht (3rd larg-est Dutch city) and Oss a smaller town
the downtowns are quite old so pedestrians
B i k e s i n H o l l a n d b y S h i r a t
s k i
b y N o r a h M
a c e y
Dutch farm roads near Oss Note the 2 bikelanes leaving room for only 1 car
Cyclists of all ages in Oss ndashnote they donrsquot ride single file
The bike in the foreground features an electric
motor on the front wheel ndash the battery is in the
chain guard and easily removed for overnight
charging The bike in the background is
specially made for the Dutch Post Office ndash single
speed but capable of carrying 40 kg of mail
10 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Cycling on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man is about the size of Saltspring Island but with a much
bigger population (86000) Besides tourism and agriculture thecountry is a tax haven and
most international banksinsurance companies and in-
vestment houses have offices
there Each year for over 100years the Isle of Man Tourist
Trophy or TT motorcycleraces have attracted spec-
tators Run on public roadsthey are very dangerous rac-
es We stayed 8km outsideof Douglas the main cityon the Isle and thought that
renting bicycles would be agreat way to get around during race week But after enjoying such easy
pedaling in Holland cycling on the Isle of Man was no joy and made usmore appreciative of the cycling infrastructure and amenities we have
in Greater VictoriaThere are plenty of cyclists on the Isle of Man such as Mark Cav-
endish the ldquoManx Missilerdquo and winner of 5 stages of this yearrsquos Giro
drsquoItalia The Isle also has lots of public trails that mountain bikers enjoyBut for commuter and recreational cycling other than a paved bike path
along the Promenade tourist area in Douglas there is nothing The roadsare narrow most have no sidewalks and many have hedges on both sides
so it can be unnerving to be pedaling or even walking on them Thereare plenty of hills as we found
when getting to and from ourhotel and of course we hadto adjust to riding on the left
and mounted our strap-onmirrors on our right handle-
bars We found that motoristswere generally courteous to
cyclists on Isle of ManOverall our travels to
Holland and Isle of Man made us appreciate how much better Greater
Victoriarsquos cycling amenities and infrastructure could be (like in Holland)and appreciate that what we have is far better than that in some other
countries like Isle of Man
NORAH MACEY is a GVCC member and part of the ThemeRides organizing committee Photos by Sam Macey
Biking in Europe
My life will never be the same For I havetasted the joy of bike lanes that donrsquot endcycling infrastructure everywhere and
traffic that patiently yields to bikes Yes itrsquos Co-penhagen MY element Getting to Copenhagenwas an adventure so I should start from the be-
ginningNine of us signed up for a 12 day ride from Ber-lin to Copenhagen during June 2013 ldquoRadwegrdquotook us over 700 kms through East Germanyto Denmark Germany has excellent bike pathsranging from hard packed gravel to concretetracks to pavement A few kms were on secondaryroads We rode with the birds through managedforests and on concrete tracks through farmersfields We also rode beside the sea canals andlakes Fragrance of linden trees wild roses andmock orange greeted us often
The ride was challenging with rolling hills andaverage distances of 60+ km Of course we had oneday of fierce head winds with rolling hills and adistance of 60 km to test our endurance
When the path took us to Denmark we cameacross more roads than in Germany But within30 km of Copenhagen those incredible bike lanesbegin Bike lanes are on every street and manyare raised about 6 inches from other lanes Bikeshave their own traffic lights of course In the coreof the city at major intersections bright blue lanesalert vehicles to yield to bikes And they do Mo-torists stop before turning right looking right forbikes Naturally bikes are allowed on subways andtrains and there are ramps to accommodate rath-
er than stairs Truly a cyclists dream Berlin wassimilarly bike friendly although with less desig-nated bike lanes
Anyone who likes to ride bike really ought totry cycling in Copenhagen Or broaden your ex-perience and ride from Berlin
JANET BESLER is a 10-year member of the GVCC andcurrently works with the themed rides committeeNewly retired she has the luxury of cycling more
B i k e s i n B e r l i n v i a F l i c k r c r e at i v e c o m m o n s
The cycle routefrom Berlin toCopenhagen
Marine Drive near Douglas is one of thebetter places to cycle on the Isle as carsare restricted
Racks full of bikes outside Oss train stationin Holland
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 1
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1224
Itrsquos not just the traditional bike vacation orthe stereotype of a grubby loner cheapingout with a tent and a forestry campsite
but weekend riders with expensive bikes anda credit card looking for good food gooddrink and the mileage to earn the calories
Ten years ago I took a trip to the Seattle
Bike Show to promote Vancouver Island as acycling destination It was part of an initiativeenvisioned by Brian Hobson operations man-ager at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel who wasand still is years ahead of the curve
A thousand people flowed through thebooth I had with my marketing friend GeorgeAllen a fellow racer from the early days of thebike boom in the lsquo70s We designed a surveyand found what Brian had already discovered ndash bike holidays involved nice hotels cozy Band Brsquos and a more generous budget thanmost in the tourist industry assumed though
more are gaining that understandingIn the intervening years we produced a
couple of maps and struggling to find theformula to get it back into print itrsquos an ideathat has never gone away but seems like anidea whose time has really come
Event tourism is getting bigger withldquoGran Fondordquo events popping up in com-munities near and far ndash a couple in Victoriawhere hundreds or thousands for riders take
Cycling While that may
metaphor itrsquos
idays are in Y
trend across N
world Here to
Island or a shor
or the America
the steady stre
routes and trails
tracted by the
Victoria and S
the circle bette
La Route Verte Quebec by S Olmsted
Arbutus CoveGuest House
Te perfect overnightbike getaway from Victoria
and surrounding communities
Arbutus Cove is a beautiful waterfront bou-tique guest house located on the GallopingGoose trail 37 kilometers from Victoria onthe Sooke Basin a 3 hour ride
3 private deluxe rooms each with theirown entrances queen beds and full bath-rooms share a huge waterfront deck withhot tub await the cycling visitor
A 15 minute walk takes you to the 17 Mile
Pub for supper and a breakfast is servedbefore your departure
June 15 - Sept 14 $150 ( for 2)Sept 15 - June 14 $125 (for 2)
Reservations
wwwarbutuscoveguesthousecom
London England has aggressively increased cycling rates by
adding bike lanes cycle hire stations and recently committing to a $15 billion
10-year plan to create a complete cycling network in the city The mayor and
his team aim to ldquode-Lycra-fyrdquo cycling and get ldquonormal peoplerdquo on bikes as part
of every day life and the cityrsquos fabric ~The Guardian
Photos London bikeshare bikes ready for hire Shoreditch in use in Soho a
popular sticker commuters headed home and the view from a double deckerof bikes mixing with vehicle traffic in south London June 2013 by F Perryman 98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313712 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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e new golfng a little tired as a
e mark Active hol-
nd examples of a
rica and around the
oria and across the
y on the Gulf Islands
ans not to mention
yclists crowding the
ympic Peninsula at-
y of loop tours with
Most everyone likes
out and back ride)
Slickrock Trail Moab Utah by Trailsource
to the roads for day long loops of every roadthey can get local governments to carve offfor them The races out there are part of thatmarket too ndash they bring riders into a com-munity to fill up hotels and order dessertsat every turn They donrsquot just come to enjoythe ride they bring their 5000 calorie a day
appetites with them Do the mathVermontrsquos cycle tourism industry is big-
ger than maple syrup Nobody heard of Moabuntil mountain bikers made it a destinationVelo Quebec has created a powerhouse in-dustry around La Route Verte and createdthousands of jobs along with it The Okana-gan was in a panic when fire destroyed tres-tles along the Kettle Valley rail trail ndash Chamber of Commerce spokes-persons told anybody in themedia who would listen thatthe disaster could cost them
$5 million a year in lossesBack here in Victoria
we who see the world frombehind the handlebars haveknown for a long time whatan asset we have in our trailsnot just the roads and routesof the city and countryside Morethan a couple of million trips a year arerecorded on the Goose and Lochside Many
are of course local commuters but tens of thou-sands will be our visitor market or another sliceof the travel industry the local day traveler Thebakery in Sidney doesnrsquot care if the visitor isfrom Victoria or Virginia They just know thatsomeone on a bike discovered them on a bike
More are on the way The new EampN trail is
disjointed and incomplete but find your way oualong the corridor and you will see commutersand neighbourhood residents have already dis-covered what it has to offer The cycling touristswonrsquot be far behind if they arenrsquot there already
Before the Goose was done I was out explor-ing the emerging trail ndash no pavement no bridg-es no signs but the name had found its way to
New Zealand and some Kiwi on a bike wasstruggling up and down the slopes at
Wilkinson Rd where there is a trestlenow He wasnrsquot the first And moreclearly he was the very thin edge of
the wedge ndash a tsunami of riders iswashing up on our shores and wewould do well to make them feewelcome
JOHN LUTON is Executive Directorof Capital Bike and Walk which provides
consulting services on infrastructureand services for cycling and walking and
coordinates the Vancouver Island Cycle TourismAlliance to promote the Island as a cycling
destination He is a former president of the GVCC
a tsunamiof riders is
washing up onour shores
by JohnLuton
Kettle Valley BC by Spatialmongrel
theybring their
5000 caloriea day appetites with them Do
the math
Andalucia Spain The cities of southern Spain including Seville CordobaMalaga and Granada have taken their rate of cycling from nearly zero to more than double
that of Victoriarsquos Seville in 2006-7 added 120km of separated bike lanes and went from
5000 riders a day to over 72000 for a bike share of 7 ldquoSeville is now a cleaner
greener placeThe cycle lanes make it much easier to feel securerdquo
~ J Sanchez Seville
Photos L to R Sevici Bike share
in Seville (photo flickrcom)
separated bike lanes in Malaga
bike share outside Cordoba
train station tourism by bike -
Roman ruins in Malaga and a
local citizen in Malaga riding
its smooth flat routesPhotos
by F Perryman June 2013Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 13983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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W e in Victoria like to pride our-selves as a cycling destinationcity Indeed many visitors come
to Victoria to sample our cycle-friendli-ness Assets such as the Galloping Gooseand Lochside Trails a mild climate to cy-cle year-round our relative compactnessand our healthy active and sustainablelifestyle have all contributed to a vibrantcycling culture which many visitors haveadmired
Although I am bless-ed to live in a community
where it is fashionable tobike to the store the showor a coffee date as well aswork I have often won-dered if there are similarcities to ours where cy-cling is the thing to doand where people visit for the riding orculture
While reviewing a recent League ofAmerican Bicyclists commuter modeshare report (2010) 2 cities caught myattention Davis California with a 22mode share and Santa Barbara California
with 64 (For the record Greater Victo-ria is 59 the highest in Canada) SinceDavis is known historically as a cyclingcity and Santa Barbara is a popular train-ing ground for cycle racers I decided toexplore these cities for myself last May
Santa Barbara was my first stop Ar-riving by train from Los Angeles I no-ticed at least a dozen bikes passing the
station in my first 15 minuteshere Within hours of my
arrival I had a rental bike from SantaBarbara Bikes-to-Go all set up and wasgiven a tour of the city by Ralph Fer-tig a member of the SantaBarbara Bicycle Coalition(SBBC) While touring thecity I noticed that there is auniform look to many of thebuildings here all designed
in the Spanish adobe styleand fairly low rise (not ex-ceeding 6 stories)
Santa Barbara has some well-devel-oped bicycle facilities The best knownand most popular pathway is the Cabril-lo Boulevard bike path paralleling thebeachfront yielding tremendous viewsOn weekends this path can get busy withwalkers joggers in-line skaters and ofcourse cyclists Most cyclists are thoseon cruiser bikes enjoying a leisurely ride
Santa Barbara Countyhas 206 miles of bike lanes
and designated bike routesWhile some of these routesare well designed and con-venient other streets disap-pointingly have bike laneswhich permit cars to beparked in them during busi-
ness hours Other bike lanes are narrowlydesigned like those on State Street themain thoroughfare
Bike parking can also be an issuewhen parking downtown Most facilitiestend to accommodate cable lock parkingover u-lock parking as it may be more
convenient to carry these type of locksaround Unfortunately cable locks havetheir security shortcomings In additionmany public buildings down-town have the ldquowheel benderrdquokind of rack which not onlyprovides little protection fromtheft but could damage a bicy-clersquos wheels if knocked over For-tunately for commuters SantaBarbara has a Bikestation where
members can access secure bike parking247 as well as access repair facilitiesduring business hours
If there is hope for cy-cling facilities developmenin the future it can befound at the University oCalifornia Santa Barbarain suburban Goleta Sim
ilar to the University inVictoria in enrolment size(22000 students) the cam
pus looks very similar in layout to UVicminus the ring road Touring with UCSBPlanning Officer Steve Conner the cam-pus has rows and rows of bike parkingfor students many specifically designedto accommodate U-locks Bike paths areseparated from pedestrian traff ic and of-ten have roundabouts for traffic calmingAs the campus is 8 miles from Santa Bar-bara many of UCSBrsquos innovations havenot had any influence on Santa Barbararsquos
facilities development though this mayhopefully change with continued advoca-cy efforts from the SBBC
The main attractions for bicyclingvisitors to Santa Barbara are the bikepathways and scenic routes leading ouof town and into places such as Goletaand the Santa Ynez valley Pathways suchas the Coast Route and the Maria Ignacio Creek Route offer a safe and leisure-ly ride to Goleta Beach and the UCSBcampus The roads leading to Solvangand the Santa Ynez valley attract seriousroad riders as well as those who wish to
explore the vineyards of thatarea or view the
A TALE OFTWO CITIES
SANTA BARBARA
amp DAVIS CALIFORNIA
byDarrenMarr
PART 1 ndashSANTA BARBARA
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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scenes from the movie Sideways Ofcourse most visitors to the city renta bike or use a loaner from their hoteland ride along the Cabrillo Boulevardbike path
As for in-town attractions MissionSanta Barbara is a must if you are in-terested in the colonial history of thearea and the role of Catholic mission-aries in the development of California
society The Santa Barbara NaturalHistory Museum less than 1 km near-by has excellent exhibits on the landand marine wildlife plus indigenoussettlement of the area Though thereare bike friendly streets leading up tothe area be cautioned that the roadsleading there are hilly
Closer to downtown notable placesof interest include the Courthouse withits muraled courtrooms and bell tower
and the SantaBarbara Mu-seum of Art
both on StateStreet Closerto the beach-front you canfind the San-
ta Barbara Zoo Stearns Wharf withits shops and restaurants and ChasePalm Park with its turn of the centurycarousel If you are fortunate to be intown Tuesdays or Saturdays the San-ta Barbara Farmers Market has someof the finest organic produce fromaround Southern California
Overall Santa Barbara is a very
bikeable city with the Mediterraneanclimate and the compactness of the citycontributing to a vibrant cycling envi-ronment Thousands of people crowdedCabrillo Boulevard in mid-May to watchracers in the Amgen Tour De Californiapass through their community perhapsseeing a future Tour De France cham-pion in the making During the cityrsquosannual CycleMAYnia festival themedrides educational workshops and a bi-cycle fashion show dot the May calen-dar And with the cityrsquos bent on sustain-ability one is bound to find scores of
bicycles at the farmers marketsand at Earth Day celebrations
Makes you wonder if thecity had a few more mod-ern bicycle facilities justhow much more of a bi-cycle friendly communitySanta Barbara could po-tentially be
IF YOU GO
Please refer toRalph Fertigrsquosbicycle tour-ism websitebike-santabar-baraorg for in-formation ontours maps bi-cycle-friendly ac-commodation and bike rentals and shopsI found it to be an excellent resource on allthings cycling in Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalitionis located at 506 E Haley Street andhouses Bici Centro the non-profit bicy-cle repair and restoration shop operatedby the SBBC Programs run from theshop help support youth empowermentand cycling education outreach Web-site bicicentroorg
Did you know there is a GVCC inSanta Barbara The Goleta Valley Cy-cling Club (GVCC) holds recreationalrides around the Santa Barbara area 3times a week Check out their websitegoletabikeorg
Go by train Amtrakrsquos Pacific Sur-fliner route arrives from Los Angeles 5times daily There are bike racks on thetrain but they must be reserved in ad-vance You can also save 20 off yourfare by booking in advance Check outsantabarbaracarfreeorg
Thanks to Ralph Steve Kent Ep-person of Traffic Solutions and EdFrance SBBC Executive Director for
filling me in on the cycling advocacyscene in Santa Barbara
Next issue Part II DavisCalifornia
DARREN MARR is a past presidentof the GVCC and likes to explore
different cities by bike
Photos by D Marr
768 Yates Street Victoria downstairs from Lylersquos Pla
Cenote Restaurant and Loun
CyclistfriendlyGVCCmembersget 10off food
Just off the Goose thSelk Trest
Selkirk Station106-80 Regatta Landing l 250-383-1466
wwwselkirkstationcom
Sales - Service - Rentals - Tours
Elite Electric Bikes
Courtesy Bikes
wwwvictoriavelotechca
2002 Fernwood Road
Victoria BC V8T 2Y9
2509205520
infovictoriavelotechca
Vi
c
t
o
r
i
a
Ve
l
o
te
c
hPRO-SHOP
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 15
386-BIKE (24
1725 Quadra Street Victoria BC V8W 2Lwwwnorthparkbikeshopcom
Sales amp Repairs
10 OFFfor GVCC memb
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1624
W ork continues on constructing the EampN Rail Trail
along the EampN rail line from Victoria to LangfordThe trail is planned to eventually join with the future
Trans Canada Trail running north up Vancouver Island So faronly a few sections are officially open Given that trail construc-tion began in 2010 and is projected to take sev-eral more years to be fully completed now is agood time to consider the challenges in build-ing the Rail Trail
In January 2013 Scansa Construction wasawarded a $196 million contract by CRD for thesections between Colville and Admirals Roadand Maplebank Road (just east of the SongheesNation reserve) and between Hallowell Road
and Craigflower Road by the Four Mile Pub(just northwest of the Songhees reserve)Building the trail is much more than sim-
ply bulldozing trees and brush out of the wayand laying down a layer of asphalt Thereneeds to be a solid roadbed underneath the asphalt in order tohave a smooth level surface that is stable There also needs tobe a drainage system so that rain and surface water will not
wash out the trailIn some places there were large rock outcroppings
that needed to be removed by blasting Howeverthere are houses very close to ndash and in some
cases built on ndash these rock outcroppings so
the blasting had to be carefully controlled to prevent damage to
nearby buildings As well the trail needs to be relatively flatand this has meant bringing in crushed rock in some places tofill in the dips and gullies
In addition to constructing the trail Southern Vancouver Island Rail is installing signals at level rail crossings along the rail line including Intervale andHutchinson Roads in Esquimalt
These sections of the EampN Rail Trail on eitherside of the Songhees Nation reserve are expected tobe open this fall And while these may be helpful tosome bike commuters particularly those headingtoward CFB Esquimalt and the expanding Seaspanshipyards next door to CFB Esquimalt more work
remains to be doneThe short section between Wilson Street andEsquimalt Road in Vic West is still to be tackledalong with constructing a safe crossing for raitrail users at Esquimalt Road near Robert Street
Constructing the trail from the Old Island Highway to wesof Helmcken Road has not yet been scheduled Two bridges paralleling railway trestles (at the Old Island Highway
near the 4 Mile Pub and Helmcken Road in View Royal) wereconstructed to allow for the trail last year Construction of thelatter section of the rail trail would provide a level route towardthe West Shore Until this section of the trail is constructed cyclists wanting to use the new section of the trail that should open
EampN Rail ConstructionUpdate by Sam Macey
EampN Rail Trailsections shouldprovide manycommuters a
choice to use their
bikes rather thantheir cars
16 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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this summer will be faced with going up and over 4 Mile Hill
The Trail bypasses the Songhees Nation Reserve near Esqui-malt so cyclists will travel alongside Admirals Road betweenHallowell and Maplebank Roads to rejoin the Rail Trail This isa rather hilly detour from the level rail line
The Admirals RoadColville intersection was upgraded sev-eral years ago but little thought was given to adequately provid-ing for pedestrian and bike crossings
While lots of work remains to be done to fully complete theEampN Trail from east to west completion of these new sections
will be a change for the better Given all the residential develop
ment taking place on the Westshore these EampN Rail Trail sections should provide many commuters a choice to use their bikerather than their cars and thus avoid being stuck in the growingtraffic congestion that now sees both Old Island Highway andTrans Canada Highway traffic at a near standstill during morning and afternoon commutes
SAM MACEY is a GVCC Director anTheme Rides Committee leader
All photos by Sam Macey
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Cyclists and pedestrians crossing Admirals
Road at Colville will be a problem
2 Early work on the trail near Four Mile Hill
and Craigflower showing one of the drainage
problems
3 Rail Crossing control box by Hutchinson road
4 New drainage by trail
5 Removal of rock outcroppings
6 New paving new Hallowell The final result The
new trail has been built up and leveled proper
drainage lines were installed beneath the trail
surface
7 Mural on the navy drydock
8 New rock wall
Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 17983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 19983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313720 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 2
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2324
This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1024
dominate the narrow streets Trucks are permitted only be-
fore 10 am to re-supply the shops but there were parking lotsand bike racks nearby for cars and bikes It took a bit of time to
get accustomed to cycling along with the thousands of othercyclists on the roads and it became even more important to
carefully watch for other cyclists along with pedestrians andmotorized traff ic
There is a lot of new housing being constructed outside
of Utrecht and Oss The Dutch suburbs we saw all had great
cycling amenities We rode on many paved bike paths sepa-rate but alongside the roads for cars and trucks On many ofthe narrow farm roads there are marked
bike lanes on both sides of the road leav-ing only enough space for one car to drivebetween
In Doesburg about 60 km east of Osswe saw hundreds of bikes locked to the bike
racks near the train stations There werealso bike lockers at the stations and they
appeared fully occupied from morning toevening The likely reason Many Dutchpeople have two bikes ndash one to ride from
their residence to the train station and an-other at the other end to ride from there to
their work siteWhile there are lots of bikes and lots of
cycling infrastructure along with commut-er rail and bus services in Holland like
BC most families seem to own a car alongwith one or more bikes and virtually allthe goods available in stores arrive there
by truck Holland has a pretty efficienthighway system but also has traffic jams
(we noticed the equivalent to our ColwoodCrawl in some cities) We also took note o
the consideration paid to cyclists by Dutchtransportation planners A special high-way overpass was constructed for cyclists
to pass over a section of freeway that wasbeing reconstructed near Oss ndash we havenrsquot
noticed that much consideration in BC
Cyclingin Holland
Our first impressions of Hollandwere not of bicycles but of the
modern efficient freeway systemfor cars and trucks But when we arrived
in Gouda bicycles were everywhere andfor good reason Holland is ldquoflat as a Dutchpannekoekrdquo so itrsquos easy to bike and old cit-
ies like Gouda have very narrow roads andlimited places for cars to drive and park
(residents require parking permits for theircars though most seem to own a car) We
saw cyclists of all ages ndash children business-
men and seniors riding Dutch-style bikes ndash high handlebars long wheelbase fullfenders enclosed chains built-in head- andtaillights and rear wheel locks and usually
equipped with huge panniersBike helmets are not mandatory in Hol-
land and only the Dutch sport bicycle rid-ers seem to favour wearing them Small
gas-powered motor scooters are also per-mitted on bike paths In Utrecht (3rd larg-est Dutch city) and Oss a smaller town
the downtowns are quite old so pedestrians
B i k e s i n H o l l a n d b y S h i r a t
s k i
b y N o r a h M
a c e y
Dutch farm roads near Oss Note the 2 bikelanes leaving room for only 1 car
Cyclists of all ages in Oss ndashnote they donrsquot ride single file
The bike in the foreground features an electric
motor on the front wheel ndash the battery is in the
chain guard and easily removed for overnight
charging The bike in the background is
specially made for the Dutch Post Office ndash single
speed but capable of carrying 40 kg of mail
10 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Cycling on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man is about the size of Saltspring Island but with a much
bigger population (86000) Besides tourism and agriculture thecountry is a tax haven and
most international banksinsurance companies and in-
vestment houses have offices
there Each year for over 100years the Isle of Man Tourist
Trophy or TT motorcycleraces have attracted spec-
tators Run on public roadsthey are very dangerous rac-
es We stayed 8km outsideof Douglas the main cityon the Isle and thought that
renting bicycles would be agreat way to get around during race week But after enjoying such easy
pedaling in Holland cycling on the Isle of Man was no joy and made usmore appreciative of the cycling infrastructure and amenities we have
in Greater VictoriaThere are plenty of cyclists on the Isle of Man such as Mark Cav-
endish the ldquoManx Missilerdquo and winner of 5 stages of this yearrsquos Giro
drsquoItalia The Isle also has lots of public trails that mountain bikers enjoyBut for commuter and recreational cycling other than a paved bike path
along the Promenade tourist area in Douglas there is nothing The roadsare narrow most have no sidewalks and many have hedges on both sides
so it can be unnerving to be pedaling or even walking on them Thereare plenty of hills as we found
when getting to and from ourhotel and of course we hadto adjust to riding on the left
and mounted our strap-onmirrors on our right handle-
bars We found that motoristswere generally courteous to
cyclists on Isle of ManOverall our travels to
Holland and Isle of Man made us appreciate how much better Greater
Victoriarsquos cycling amenities and infrastructure could be (like in Holland)and appreciate that what we have is far better than that in some other
countries like Isle of Man
NORAH MACEY is a GVCC member and part of the ThemeRides organizing committee Photos by Sam Macey
Biking in Europe
My life will never be the same For I havetasted the joy of bike lanes that donrsquot endcycling infrastructure everywhere and
traffic that patiently yields to bikes Yes itrsquos Co-penhagen MY element Getting to Copenhagenwas an adventure so I should start from the be-
ginningNine of us signed up for a 12 day ride from Ber-lin to Copenhagen during June 2013 ldquoRadwegrdquotook us over 700 kms through East Germanyto Denmark Germany has excellent bike pathsranging from hard packed gravel to concretetracks to pavement A few kms were on secondaryroads We rode with the birds through managedforests and on concrete tracks through farmersfields We also rode beside the sea canals andlakes Fragrance of linden trees wild roses andmock orange greeted us often
The ride was challenging with rolling hills andaverage distances of 60+ km Of course we had oneday of fierce head winds with rolling hills and adistance of 60 km to test our endurance
When the path took us to Denmark we cameacross more roads than in Germany But within30 km of Copenhagen those incredible bike lanesbegin Bike lanes are on every street and manyare raised about 6 inches from other lanes Bikeshave their own traffic lights of course In the coreof the city at major intersections bright blue lanesalert vehicles to yield to bikes And they do Mo-torists stop before turning right looking right forbikes Naturally bikes are allowed on subways andtrains and there are ramps to accommodate rath-
er than stairs Truly a cyclists dream Berlin wassimilarly bike friendly although with less desig-nated bike lanes
Anyone who likes to ride bike really ought totry cycling in Copenhagen Or broaden your ex-perience and ride from Berlin
JANET BESLER is a 10-year member of the GVCC andcurrently works with the themed rides committeeNewly retired she has the luxury of cycling more
B i k e s i n B e r l i n v i a F l i c k r c r e at i v e c o m m o n s
The cycle routefrom Berlin toCopenhagen
Marine Drive near Douglas is one of thebetter places to cycle on the Isle as carsare restricted
Racks full of bikes outside Oss train stationin Holland
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 1
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1224
Itrsquos not just the traditional bike vacation orthe stereotype of a grubby loner cheapingout with a tent and a forestry campsite
but weekend riders with expensive bikes anda credit card looking for good food gooddrink and the mileage to earn the calories
Ten years ago I took a trip to the Seattle
Bike Show to promote Vancouver Island as acycling destination It was part of an initiativeenvisioned by Brian Hobson operations man-ager at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel who wasand still is years ahead of the curve
A thousand people flowed through thebooth I had with my marketing friend GeorgeAllen a fellow racer from the early days of thebike boom in the lsquo70s We designed a surveyand found what Brian had already discovered ndash bike holidays involved nice hotels cozy Band Brsquos and a more generous budget thanmost in the tourist industry assumed though
more are gaining that understandingIn the intervening years we produced a
couple of maps and struggling to find theformula to get it back into print itrsquos an ideathat has never gone away but seems like anidea whose time has really come
Event tourism is getting bigger withldquoGran Fondordquo events popping up in com-munities near and far ndash a couple in Victoriawhere hundreds or thousands for riders take
Cycling While that may
metaphor itrsquos
idays are in Y
trend across N
world Here to
Island or a shor
or the America
the steady stre
routes and trails
tracted by the
Victoria and S
the circle bette
La Route Verte Quebec by S Olmsted
Arbutus CoveGuest House
Te perfect overnightbike getaway from Victoria
and surrounding communities
Arbutus Cove is a beautiful waterfront bou-tique guest house located on the GallopingGoose trail 37 kilometers from Victoria onthe Sooke Basin a 3 hour ride
3 private deluxe rooms each with theirown entrances queen beds and full bath-rooms share a huge waterfront deck withhot tub await the cycling visitor
A 15 minute walk takes you to the 17 Mile
Pub for supper and a breakfast is servedbefore your departure
June 15 - Sept 14 $150 ( for 2)Sept 15 - June 14 $125 (for 2)
Reservations
wwwarbutuscoveguesthousecom
London England has aggressively increased cycling rates by
adding bike lanes cycle hire stations and recently committing to a $15 billion
10-year plan to create a complete cycling network in the city The mayor and
his team aim to ldquode-Lycra-fyrdquo cycling and get ldquonormal peoplerdquo on bikes as part
of every day life and the cityrsquos fabric ~The Guardian
Photos London bikeshare bikes ready for hire Shoreditch in use in Soho a
popular sticker commuters headed home and the view from a double deckerof bikes mixing with vehicle traffic in south London June 2013 by F Perryman 98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313712 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1324
e new golfng a little tired as a
e mark Active hol-
nd examples of a
rica and around the
oria and across the
y on the Gulf Islands
ans not to mention
yclists crowding the
ympic Peninsula at-
y of loop tours with
Most everyone likes
out and back ride)
Slickrock Trail Moab Utah by Trailsource
to the roads for day long loops of every roadthey can get local governments to carve offfor them The races out there are part of thatmarket too ndash they bring riders into a com-munity to fill up hotels and order dessertsat every turn They donrsquot just come to enjoythe ride they bring their 5000 calorie a day
appetites with them Do the mathVermontrsquos cycle tourism industry is big-
ger than maple syrup Nobody heard of Moabuntil mountain bikers made it a destinationVelo Quebec has created a powerhouse in-dustry around La Route Verte and createdthousands of jobs along with it The Okana-gan was in a panic when fire destroyed tres-tles along the Kettle Valley rail trail ndash Chamber of Commerce spokes-persons told anybody in themedia who would listen thatthe disaster could cost them
$5 million a year in lossesBack here in Victoria
we who see the world frombehind the handlebars haveknown for a long time whatan asset we have in our trailsnot just the roads and routesof the city and countryside Morethan a couple of million trips a year arerecorded on the Goose and Lochside Many
are of course local commuters but tens of thou-sands will be our visitor market or another sliceof the travel industry the local day traveler Thebakery in Sidney doesnrsquot care if the visitor isfrom Victoria or Virginia They just know thatsomeone on a bike discovered them on a bike
More are on the way The new EampN trail is
disjointed and incomplete but find your way oualong the corridor and you will see commutersand neighbourhood residents have already dis-covered what it has to offer The cycling touristswonrsquot be far behind if they arenrsquot there already
Before the Goose was done I was out explor-ing the emerging trail ndash no pavement no bridg-es no signs but the name had found its way to
New Zealand and some Kiwi on a bike wasstruggling up and down the slopes at
Wilkinson Rd where there is a trestlenow He wasnrsquot the first And moreclearly he was the very thin edge of
the wedge ndash a tsunami of riders iswashing up on our shores and wewould do well to make them feewelcome
JOHN LUTON is Executive Directorof Capital Bike and Walk which provides
consulting services on infrastructureand services for cycling and walking and
coordinates the Vancouver Island Cycle TourismAlliance to promote the Island as a cycling
destination He is a former president of the GVCC
a tsunamiof riders is
washing up onour shores
by JohnLuton
Kettle Valley BC by Spatialmongrel
theybring their
5000 caloriea day appetites with them Do
the math
Andalucia Spain The cities of southern Spain including Seville CordobaMalaga and Granada have taken their rate of cycling from nearly zero to more than double
that of Victoriarsquos Seville in 2006-7 added 120km of separated bike lanes and went from
5000 riders a day to over 72000 for a bike share of 7 ldquoSeville is now a cleaner
greener placeThe cycle lanes make it much easier to feel securerdquo
~ J Sanchez Seville
Photos L to R Sevici Bike share
in Seville (photo flickrcom)
separated bike lanes in Malaga
bike share outside Cordoba
train station tourism by bike -
Roman ruins in Malaga and a
local citizen in Malaga riding
its smooth flat routesPhotos
by F Perryman June 2013Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 13983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1424
W e in Victoria like to pride our-selves as a cycling destinationcity Indeed many visitors come
to Victoria to sample our cycle-friendli-ness Assets such as the Galloping Gooseand Lochside Trails a mild climate to cy-cle year-round our relative compactnessand our healthy active and sustainablelifestyle have all contributed to a vibrantcycling culture which many visitors haveadmired
Although I am bless-ed to live in a community
where it is fashionable tobike to the store the showor a coffee date as well aswork I have often won-dered if there are similarcities to ours where cy-cling is the thing to doand where people visit for the riding orculture
While reviewing a recent League ofAmerican Bicyclists commuter modeshare report (2010) 2 cities caught myattention Davis California with a 22mode share and Santa Barbara California
with 64 (For the record Greater Victo-ria is 59 the highest in Canada) SinceDavis is known historically as a cyclingcity and Santa Barbara is a popular train-ing ground for cycle racers I decided toexplore these cities for myself last May
Santa Barbara was my first stop Ar-riving by train from Los Angeles I no-ticed at least a dozen bikes passing the
station in my first 15 minuteshere Within hours of my
arrival I had a rental bike from SantaBarbara Bikes-to-Go all set up and wasgiven a tour of the city by Ralph Fer-tig a member of the SantaBarbara Bicycle Coalition(SBBC) While touring thecity I noticed that there is auniform look to many of thebuildings here all designed
in the Spanish adobe styleand fairly low rise (not ex-ceeding 6 stories)
Santa Barbara has some well-devel-oped bicycle facilities The best knownand most popular pathway is the Cabril-lo Boulevard bike path paralleling thebeachfront yielding tremendous viewsOn weekends this path can get busy withwalkers joggers in-line skaters and ofcourse cyclists Most cyclists are thoseon cruiser bikes enjoying a leisurely ride
Santa Barbara Countyhas 206 miles of bike lanes
and designated bike routesWhile some of these routesare well designed and con-venient other streets disap-pointingly have bike laneswhich permit cars to beparked in them during busi-
ness hours Other bike lanes are narrowlydesigned like those on State Street themain thoroughfare
Bike parking can also be an issuewhen parking downtown Most facilitiestend to accommodate cable lock parkingover u-lock parking as it may be more
convenient to carry these type of locksaround Unfortunately cable locks havetheir security shortcomings In additionmany public buildings down-town have the ldquowheel benderrdquokind of rack which not onlyprovides little protection fromtheft but could damage a bicy-clersquos wheels if knocked over For-tunately for commuters SantaBarbara has a Bikestation where
members can access secure bike parking247 as well as access repair facilitiesduring business hours
If there is hope for cy-cling facilities developmenin the future it can befound at the University oCalifornia Santa Barbarain suburban Goleta Sim
ilar to the University inVictoria in enrolment size(22000 students) the cam
pus looks very similar in layout to UVicminus the ring road Touring with UCSBPlanning Officer Steve Conner the cam-pus has rows and rows of bike parkingfor students many specifically designedto accommodate U-locks Bike paths areseparated from pedestrian traff ic and of-ten have roundabouts for traffic calmingAs the campus is 8 miles from Santa Bar-bara many of UCSBrsquos innovations havenot had any influence on Santa Barbararsquos
facilities development though this mayhopefully change with continued advoca-cy efforts from the SBBC
The main attractions for bicyclingvisitors to Santa Barbara are the bikepathways and scenic routes leading ouof town and into places such as Goletaand the Santa Ynez valley Pathways suchas the Coast Route and the Maria Ignacio Creek Route offer a safe and leisure-ly ride to Goleta Beach and the UCSBcampus The roads leading to Solvangand the Santa Ynez valley attract seriousroad riders as well as those who wish to
explore the vineyards of thatarea or view the
A TALE OFTWO CITIES
SANTA BARBARA
amp DAVIS CALIFORNIA
byDarrenMarr
PART 1 ndashSANTA BARBARA
14 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1524
scenes from the movie Sideways Ofcourse most visitors to the city renta bike or use a loaner from their hoteland ride along the Cabrillo Boulevardbike path
As for in-town attractions MissionSanta Barbara is a must if you are in-terested in the colonial history of thearea and the role of Catholic mission-aries in the development of California
society The Santa Barbara NaturalHistory Museum less than 1 km near-by has excellent exhibits on the landand marine wildlife plus indigenoussettlement of the area Though thereare bike friendly streets leading up tothe area be cautioned that the roadsleading there are hilly
Closer to downtown notable placesof interest include the Courthouse withits muraled courtrooms and bell tower
and the SantaBarbara Mu-seum of Art
both on StateStreet Closerto the beach-front you canfind the San-
ta Barbara Zoo Stearns Wharf withits shops and restaurants and ChasePalm Park with its turn of the centurycarousel If you are fortunate to be intown Tuesdays or Saturdays the San-ta Barbara Farmers Market has someof the finest organic produce fromaround Southern California
Overall Santa Barbara is a very
bikeable city with the Mediterraneanclimate and the compactness of the citycontributing to a vibrant cycling envi-ronment Thousands of people crowdedCabrillo Boulevard in mid-May to watchracers in the Amgen Tour De Californiapass through their community perhapsseeing a future Tour De France cham-pion in the making During the cityrsquosannual CycleMAYnia festival themedrides educational workshops and a bi-cycle fashion show dot the May calen-dar And with the cityrsquos bent on sustain-ability one is bound to find scores of
bicycles at the farmers marketsand at Earth Day celebrations
Makes you wonder if thecity had a few more mod-ern bicycle facilities justhow much more of a bi-cycle friendly communitySanta Barbara could po-tentially be
IF YOU GO
Please refer toRalph Fertigrsquosbicycle tour-ism websitebike-santabar-baraorg for in-formation ontours maps bi-cycle-friendly ac-commodation and bike rentals and shopsI found it to be an excellent resource on allthings cycling in Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalitionis located at 506 E Haley Street andhouses Bici Centro the non-profit bicy-cle repair and restoration shop operatedby the SBBC Programs run from theshop help support youth empowermentand cycling education outreach Web-site bicicentroorg
Did you know there is a GVCC inSanta Barbara The Goleta Valley Cy-cling Club (GVCC) holds recreationalrides around the Santa Barbara area 3times a week Check out their websitegoletabikeorg
Go by train Amtrakrsquos Pacific Sur-fliner route arrives from Los Angeles 5times daily There are bike racks on thetrain but they must be reserved in ad-vance You can also save 20 off yourfare by booking in advance Check outsantabarbaracarfreeorg
Thanks to Ralph Steve Kent Ep-person of Traffic Solutions and EdFrance SBBC Executive Director for
filling me in on the cycling advocacyscene in Santa Barbara
Next issue Part II DavisCalifornia
DARREN MARR is a past presidentof the GVCC and likes to explore
different cities by bike
Photos by D Marr
768 Yates Street Victoria downstairs from Lylersquos Pla
Cenote Restaurant and Loun
CyclistfriendlyGVCCmembersget 10off food
Just off the Goose thSelk Trest
Selkirk Station106-80 Regatta Landing l 250-383-1466
wwwselkirkstationcom
Sales - Service - Rentals - Tours
Elite Electric Bikes
Courtesy Bikes
wwwvictoriavelotechca
2002 Fernwood Road
Victoria BC V8T 2Y9
2509205520
infovictoriavelotechca
Vi
c
t
o
r
i
a
Ve
l
o
te
c
hPRO-SHOP
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 15
386-BIKE (24
1725 Quadra Street Victoria BC V8W 2Lwwwnorthparkbikeshopcom
Sales amp Repairs
10 OFFfor GVCC memb
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1624
W ork continues on constructing the EampN Rail Trail
along the EampN rail line from Victoria to LangfordThe trail is planned to eventually join with the future
Trans Canada Trail running north up Vancouver Island So faronly a few sections are officially open Given that trail construc-tion began in 2010 and is projected to take sev-eral more years to be fully completed now is agood time to consider the challenges in build-ing the Rail Trail
In January 2013 Scansa Construction wasawarded a $196 million contract by CRD for thesections between Colville and Admirals Roadand Maplebank Road (just east of the SongheesNation reserve) and between Hallowell Road
and Craigflower Road by the Four Mile Pub(just northwest of the Songhees reserve)Building the trail is much more than sim-
ply bulldozing trees and brush out of the wayand laying down a layer of asphalt Thereneeds to be a solid roadbed underneath the asphalt in order tohave a smooth level surface that is stable There also needs tobe a drainage system so that rain and surface water will not
wash out the trailIn some places there were large rock outcroppings
that needed to be removed by blasting Howeverthere are houses very close to ndash and in some
cases built on ndash these rock outcroppings so
the blasting had to be carefully controlled to prevent damage to
nearby buildings As well the trail needs to be relatively flatand this has meant bringing in crushed rock in some places tofill in the dips and gullies
In addition to constructing the trail Southern Vancouver Island Rail is installing signals at level rail crossings along the rail line including Intervale andHutchinson Roads in Esquimalt
These sections of the EampN Rail Trail on eitherside of the Songhees Nation reserve are expected tobe open this fall And while these may be helpful tosome bike commuters particularly those headingtoward CFB Esquimalt and the expanding Seaspanshipyards next door to CFB Esquimalt more work
remains to be doneThe short section between Wilson Street andEsquimalt Road in Vic West is still to be tackledalong with constructing a safe crossing for raitrail users at Esquimalt Road near Robert Street
Constructing the trail from the Old Island Highway to wesof Helmcken Road has not yet been scheduled Two bridges paralleling railway trestles (at the Old Island Highway
near the 4 Mile Pub and Helmcken Road in View Royal) wereconstructed to allow for the trail last year Construction of thelatter section of the rail trail would provide a level route towardthe West Shore Until this section of the trail is constructed cyclists wanting to use the new section of the trail that should open
EampN Rail ConstructionUpdate by Sam Macey
EampN Rail Trailsections shouldprovide manycommuters a
choice to use their
bikes rather thantheir cars
16 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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this summer will be faced with going up and over 4 Mile Hill
The Trail bypasses the Songhees Nation Reserve near Esqui-malt so cyclists will travel alongside Admirals Road betweenHallowell and Maplebank Roads to rejoin the Rail Trail This isa rather hilly detour from the level rail line
The Admirals RoadColville intersection was upgraded sev-eral years ago but little thought was given to adequately provid-ing for pedestrian and bike crossings
While lots of work remains to be done to fully complete theEampN Trail from east to west completion of these new sections
will be a change for the better Given all the residential develop
ment taking place on the Westshore these EampN Rail Trail sections should provide many commuters a choice to use their bikerather than their cars and thus avoid being stuck in the growingtraffic congestion that now sees both Old Island Highway andTrans Canada Highway traffic at a near standstill during morning and afternoon commutes
SAM MACEY is a GVCC Director anTheme Rides Committee leader
All photos by Sam Macey
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Cyclists and pedestrians crossing Admirals
Road at Colville will be a problem
2 Early work on the trail near Four Mile Hill
and Craigflower showing one of the drainage
problems
3 Rail Crossing control box by Hutchinson road
4 New drainage by trail
5 Removal of rock outcroppings
6 New paving new Hallowell The final result The
new trail has been built up and leveled proper
drainage lines were installed beneath the trail
surface
7 Mural on the navy drydock
8 New rock wall
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 2
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2424
Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Cycling on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man is about the size of Saltspring Island but with a much
bigger population (86000) Besides tourism and agriculture thecountry is a tax haven and
most international banksinsurance companies and in-
vestment houses have offices
there Each year for over 100years the Isle of Man Tourist
Trophy or TT motorcycleraces have attracted spec-
tators Run on public roadsthey are very dangerous rac-
es We stayed 8km outsideof Douglas the main cityon the Isle and thought that
renting bicycles would be agreat way to get around during race week But after enjoying such easy
pedaling in Holland cycling on the Isle of Man was no joy and made usmore appreciative of the cycling infrastructure and amenities we have
in Greater VictoriaThere are plenty of cyclists on the Isle of Man such as Mark Cav-
endish the ldquoManx Missilerdquo and winner of 5 stages of this yearrsquos Giro
drsquoItalia The Isle also has lots of public trails that mountain bikers enjoyBut for commuter and recreational cycling other than a paved bike path
along the Promenade tourist area in Douglas there is nothing The roadsare narrow most have no sidewalks and many have hedges on both sides
so it can be unnerving to be pedaling or even walking on them Thereare plenty of hills as we found
when getting to and from ourhotel and of course we hadto adjust to riding on the left
and mounted our strap-onmirrors on our right handle-
bars We found that motoristswere generally courteous to
cyclists on Isle of ManOverall our travels to
Holland and Isle of Man made us appreciate how much better Greater
Victoriarsquos cycling amenities and infrastructure could be (like in Holland)and appreciate that what we have is far better than that in some other
countries like Isle of Man
NORAH MACEY is a GVCC member and part of the ThemeRides organizing committee Photos by Sam Macey
Biking in Europe
My life will never be the same For I havetasted the joy of bike lanes that donrsquot endcycling infrastructure everywhere and
traffic that patiently yields to bikes Yes itrsquos Co-penhagen MY element Getting to Copenhagenwas an adventure so I should start from the be-
ginningNine of us signed up for a 12 day ride from Ber-lin to Copenhagen during June 2013 ldquoRadwegrdquotook us over 700 kms through East Germanyto Denmark Germany has excellent bike pathsranging from hard packed gravel to concretetracks to pavement A few kms were on secondaryroads We rode with the birds through managedforests and on concrete tracks through farmersfields We also rode beside the sea canals andlakes Fragrance of linden trees wild roses andmock orange greeted us often
The ride was challenging with rolling hills andaverage distances of 60+ km Of course we had oneday of fierce head winds with rolling hills and adistance of 60 km to test our endurance
When the path took us to Denmark we cameacross more roads than in Germany But within30 km of Copenhagen those incredible bike lanesbegin Bike lanes are on every street and manyare raised about 6 inches from other lanes Bikeshave their own traffic lights of course In the coreof the city at major intersections bright blue lanesalert vehicles to yield to bikes And they do Mo-torists stop before turning right looking right forbikes Naturally bikes are allowed on subways andtrains and there are ramps to accommodate rath-
er than stairs Truly a cyclists dream Berlin wassimilarly bike friendly although with less desig-nated bike lanes
Anyone who likes to ride bike really ought totry cycling in Copenhagen Or broaden your ex-perience and ride from Berlin
JANET BESLER is a 10-year member of the GVCC andcurrently works with the themed rides committeeNewly retired she has the luxury of cycling more
B i k e s i n B e r l i n v i a F l i c k r c r e at i v e c o m m o n s
The cycle routefrom Berlin toCopenhagen
Marine Drive near Douglas is one of thebetter places to cycle on the Isle as carsare restricted
Racks full of bikes outside Oss train stationin Holland
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Itrsquos not just the traditional bike vacation orthe stereotype of a grubby loner cheapingout with a tent and a forestry campsite
but weekend riders with expensive bikes anda credit card looking for good food gooddrink and the mileage to earn the calories
Ten years ago I took a trip to the Seattle
Bike Show to promote Vancouver Island as acycling destination It was part of an initiativeenvisioned by Brian Hobson operations man-ager at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel who wasand still is years ahead of the curve
A thousand people flowed through thebooth I had with my marketing friend GeorgeAllen a fellow racer from the early days of thebike boom in the lsquo70s We designed a surveyand found what Brian had already discovered ndash bike holidays involved nice hotels cozy Band Brsquos and a more generous budget thanmost in the tourist industry assumed though
more are gaining that understandingIn the intervening years we produced a
couple of maps and struggling to find theformula to get it back into print itrsquos an ideathat has never gone away but seems like anidea whose time has really come
Event tourism is getting bigger withldquoGran Fondordquo events popping up in com-munities near and far ndash a couple in Victoriawhere hundreds or thousands for riders take
Cycling While that may
metaphor itrsquos
idays are in Y
trend across N
world Here to
Island or a shor
or the America
the steady stre
routes and trails
tracted by the
Victoria and S
the circle bette
La Route Verte Quebec by S Olmsted
Arbutus CoveGuest House
Te perfect overnightbike getaway from Victoria
and surrounding communities
Arbutus Cove is a beautiful waterfront bou-tique guest house located on the GallopingGoose trail 37 kilometers from Victoria onthe Sooke Basin a 3 hour ride
3 private deluxe rooms each with theirown entrances queen beds and full bath-rooms share a huge waterfront deck withhot tub await the cycling visitor
A 15 minute walk takes you to the 17 Mile
Pub for supper and a breakfast is servedbefore your departure
June 15 - Sept 14 $150 ( for 2)Sept 15 - June 14 $125 (for 2)
Reservations
wwwarbutuscoveguesthousecom
London England has aggressively increased cycling rates by
adding bike lanes cycle hire stations and recently committing to a $15 billion
10-year plan to create a complete cycling network in the city The mayor and
his team aim to ldquode-Lycra-fyrdquo cycling and get ldquonormal peoplerdquo on bikes as part
of every day life and the cityrsquos fabric ~The Guardian
Photos London bikeshare bikes ready for hire Shoreditch in use in Soho a
popular sticker commuters headed home and the view from a double deckerof bikes mixing with vehicle traffic in south London June 2013 by F Perryman 98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313712 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1324
e new golfng a little tired as a
e mark Active hol-
nd examples of a
rica and around the
oria and across the
y on the Gulf Islands
ans not to mention
yclists crowding the
ympic Peninsula at-
y of loop tours with
Most everyone likes
out and back ride)
Slickrock Trail Moab Utah by Trailsource
to the roads for day long loops of every roadthey can get local governments to carve offfor them The races out there are part of thatmarket too ndash they bring riders into a com-munity to fill up hotels and order dessertsat every turn They donrsquot just come to enjoythe ride they bring their 5000 calorie a day
appetites with them Do the mathVermontrsquos cycle tourism industry is big-
ger than maple syrup Nobody heard of Moabuntil mountain bikers made it a destinationVelo Quebec has created a powerhouse in-dustry around La Route Verte and createdthousands of jobs along with it The Okana-gan was in a panic when fire destroyed tres-tles along the Kettle Valley rail trail ndash Chamber of Commerce spokes-persons told anybody in themedia who would listen thatthe disaster could cost them
$5 million a year in lossesBack here in Victoria
we who see the world frombehind the handlebars haveknown for a long time whatan asset we have in our trailsnot just the roads and routesof the city and countryside Morethan a couple of million trips a year arerecorded on the Goose and Lochside Many
are of course local commuters but tens of thou-sands will be our visitor market or another sliceof the travel industry the local day traveler Thebakery in Sidney doesnrsquot care if the visitor isfrom Victoria or Virginia They just know thatsomeone on a bike discovered them on a bike
More are on the way The new EampN trail is
disjointed and incomplete but find your way oualong the corridor and you will see commutersand neighbourhood residents have already dis-covered what it has to offer The cycling touristswonrsquot be far behind if they arenrsquot there already
Before the Goose was done I was out explor-ing the emerging trail ndash no pavement no bridg-es no signs but the name had found its way to
New Zealand and some Kiwi on a bike wasstruggling up and down the slopes at
Wilkinson Rd where there is a trestlenow He wasnrsquot the first And moreclearly he was the very thin edge of
the wedge ndash a tsunami of riders iswashing up on our shores and wewould do well to make them feewelcome
JOHN LUTON is Executive Directorof Capital Bike and Walk which provides
consulting services on infrastructureand services for cycling and walking and
coordinates the Vancouver Island Cycle TourismAlliance to promote the Island as a cycling
destination He is a former president of the GVCC
a tsunamiof riders is
washing up onour shores
by JohnLuton
Kettle Valley BC by Spatialmongrel
theybring their
5000 caloriea day appetites with them Do
the math
Andalucia Spain The cities of southern Spain including Seville CordobaMalaga and Granada have taken their rate of cycling from nearly zero to more than double
that of Victoriarsquos Seville in 2006-7 added 120km of separated bike lanes and went from
5000 riders a day to over 72000 for a bike share of 7 ldquoSeville is now a cleaner
greener placeThe cycle lanes make it much easier to feel securerdquo
~ J Sanchez Seville
Photos L to R Sevici Bike share
in Seville (photo flickrcom)
separated bike lanes in Malaga
bike share outside Cordoba
train station tourism by bike -
Roman ruins in Malaga and a
local citizen in Malaga riding
its smooth flat routesPhotos
by F Perryman June 2013Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 13983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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W e in Victoria like to pride our-selves as a cycling destinationcity Indeed many visitors come
to Victoria to sample our cycle-friendli-ness Assets such as the Galloping Gooseand Lochside Trails a mild climate to cy-cle year-round our relative compactnessand our healthy active and sustainablelifestyle have all contributed to a vibrantcycling culture which many visitors haveadmired
Although I am bless-ed to live in a community
where it is fashionable tobike to the store the showor a coffee date as well aswork I have often won-dered if there are similarcities to ours where cy-cling is the thing to doand where people visit for the riding orculture
While reviewing a recent League ofAmerican Bicyclists commuter modeshare report (2010) 2 cities caught myattention Davis California with a 22mode share and Santa Barbara California
with 64 (For the record Greater Victo-ria is 59 the highest in Canada) SinceDavis is known historically as a cyclingcity and Santa Barbara is a popular train-ing ground for cycle racers I decided toexplore these cities for myself last May
Santa Barbara was my first stop Ar-riving by train from Los Angeles I no-ticed at least a dozen bikes passing the
station in my first 15 minuteshere Within hours of my
arrival I had a rental bike from SantaBarbara Bikes-to-Go all set up and wasgiven a tour of the city by Ralph Fer-tig a member of the SantaBarbara Bicycle Coalition(SBBC) While touring thecity I noticed that there is auniform look to many of thebuildings here all designed
in the Spanish adobe styleand fairly low rise (not ex-ceeding 6 stories)
Santa Barbara has some well-devel-oped bicycle facilities The best knownand most popular pathway is the Cabril-lo Boulevard bike path paralleling thebeachfront yielding tremendous viewsOn weekends this path can get busy withwalkers joggers in-line skaters and ofcourse cyclists Most cyclists are thoseon cruiser bikes enjoying a leisurely ride
Santa Barbara Countyhas 206 miles of bike lanes
and designated bike routesWhile some of these routesare well designed and con-venient other streets disap-pointingly have bike laneswhich permit cars to beparked in them during busi-
ness hours Other bike lanes are narrowlydesigned like those on State Street themain thoroughfare
Bike parking can also be an issuewhen parking downtown Most facilitiestend to accommodate cable lock parkingover u-lock parking as it may be more
convenient to carry these type of locksaround Unfortunately cable locks havetheir security shortcomings In additionmany public buildings down-town have the ldquowheel benderrdquokind of rack which not onlyprovides little protection fromtheft but could damage a bicy-clersquos wheels if knocked over For-tunately for commuters SantaBarbara has a Bikestation where
members can access secure bike parking247 as well as access repair facilitiesduring business hours
If there is hope for cy-cling facilities developmenin the future it can befound at the University oCalifornia Santa Barbarain suburban Goleta Sim
ilar to the University inVictoria in enrolment size(22000 students) the cam
pus looks very similar in layout to UVicminus the ring road Touring with UCSBPlanning Officer Steve Conner the cam-pus has rows and rows of bike parkingfor students many specifically designedto accommodate U-locks Bike paths areseparated from pedestrian traff ic and of-ten have roundabouts for traffic calmingAs the campus is 8 miles from Santa Bar-bara many of UCSBrsquos innovations havenot had any influence on Santa Barbararsquos
facilities development though this mayhopefully change with continued advoca-cy efforts from the SBBC
The main attractions for bicyclingvisitors to Santa Barbara are the bikepathways and scenic routes leading ouof town and into places such as Goletaand the Santa Ynez valley Pathways suchas the Coast Route and the Maria Ignacio Creek Route offer a safe and leisure-ly ride to Goleta Beach and the UCSBcampus The roads leading to Solvangand the Santa Ynez valley attract seriousroad riders as well as those who wish to
explore the vineyards of thatarea or view the
A TALE OFTWO CITIES
SANTA BARBARA
amp DAVIS CALIFORNIA
byDarrenMarr
PART 1 ndashSANTA BARBARA
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1524
scenes from the movie Sideways Ofcourse most visitors to the city renta bike or use a loaner from their hoteland ride along the Cabrillo Boulevardbike path
As for in-town attractions MissionSanta Barbara is a must if you are in-terested in the colonial history of thearea and the role of Catholic mission-aries in the development of California
society The Santa Barbara NaturalHistory Museum less than 1 km near-by has excellent exhibits on the landand marine wildlife plus indigenoussettlement of the area Though thereare bike friendly streets leading up tothe area be cautioned that the roadsleading there are hilly
Closer to downtown notable placesof interest include the Courthouse withits muraled courtrooms and bell tower
and the SantaBarbara Mu-seum of Art
both on StateStreet Closerto the beach-front you canfind the San-
ta Barbara Zoo Stearns Wharf withits shops and restaurants and ChasePalm Park with its turn of the centurycarousel If you are fortunate to be intown Tuesdays or Saturdays the San-ta Barbara Farmers Market has someof the finest organic produce fromaround Southern California
Overall Santa Barbara is a very
bikeable city with the Mediterraneanclimate and the compactness of the citycontributing to a vibrant cycling envi-ronment Thousands of people crowdedCabrillo Boulevard in mid-May to watchracers in the Amgen Tour De Californiapass through their community perhapsseeing a future Tour De France cham-pion in the making During the cityrsquosannual CycleMAYnia festival themedrides educational workshops and a bi-cycle fashion show dot the May calen-dar And with the cityrsquos bent on sustain-ability one is bound to find scores of
bicycles at the farmers marketsand at Earth Day celebrations
Makes you wonder if thecity had a few more mod-ern bicycle facilities justhow much more of a bi-cycle friendly communitySanta Barbara could po-tentially be
IF YOU GO
Please refer toRalph Fertigrsquosbicycle tour-ism websitebike-santabar-baraorg for in-formation ontours maps bi-cycle-friendly ac-commodation and bike rentals and shopsI found it to be an excellent resource on allthings cycling in Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalitionis located at 506 E Haley Street andhouses Bici Centro the non-profit bicy-cle repair and restoration shop operatedby the SBBC Programs run from theshop help support youth empowermentand cycling education outreach Web-site bicicentroorg
Did you know there is a GVCC inSanta Barbara The Goleta Valley Cy-cling Club (GVCC) holds recreationalrides around the Santa Barbara area 3times a week Check out their websitegoletabikeorg
Go by train Amtrakrsquos Pacific Sur-fliner route arrives from Los Angeles 5times daily There are bike racks on thetrain but they must be reserved in ad-vance You can also save 20 off yourfare by booking in advance Check outsantabarbaracarfreeorg
Thanks to Ralph Steve Kent Ep-person of Traffic Solutions and EdFrance SBBC Executive Director for
filling me in on the cycling advocacyscene in Santa Barbara
Next issue Part II DavisCalifornia
DARREN MARR is a past presidentof the GVCC and likes to explore
different cities by bike
Photos by D Marr
768 Yates Street Victoria downstairs from Lylersquos Pla
Cenote Restaurant and Loun
CyclistfriendlyGVCCmembersget 10off food
Just off the Goose thSelk Trest
Selkirk Station106-80 Regatta Landing l 250-383-1466
wwwselkirkstationcom
Sales - Service - Rentals - Tours
Elite Electric Bikes
Courtesy Bikes
wwwvictoriavelotechca
2002 Fernwood Road
Victoria BC V8T 2Y9
2509205520
infovictoriavelotechca
Vi
c
t
o
r
i
a
Ve
l
o
te
c
hPRO-SHOP
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 15
386-BIKE (24
1725 Quadra Street Victoria BC V8W 2Lwwwnorthparkbikeshopcom
Sales amp Repairs
10 OFFfor GVCC memb
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1624
W ork continues on constructing the EampN Rail Trail
along the EampN rail line from Victoria to LangfordThe trail is planned to eventually join with the future
Trans Canada Trail running north up Vancouver Island So faronly a few sections are officially open Given that trail construc-tion began in 2010 and is projected to take sev-eral more years to be fully completed now is agood time to consider the challenges in build-ing the Rail Trail
In January 2013 Scansa Construction wasawarded a $196 million contract by CRD for thesections between Colville and Admirals Roadand Maplebank Road (just east of the SongheesNation reserve) and between Hallowell Road
and Craigflower Road by the Four Mile Pub(just northwest of the Songhees reserve)Building the trail is much more than sim-
ply bulldozing trees and brush out of the wayand laying down a layer of asphalt Thereneeds to be a solid roadbed underneath the asphalt in order tohave a smooth level surface that is stable There also needs tobe a drainage system so that rain and surface water will not
wash out the trailIn some places there were large rock outcroppings
that needed to be removed by blasting Howeverthere are houses very close to ndash and in some
cases built on ndash these rock outcroppings so
the blasting had to be carefully controlled to prevent damage to
nearby buildings As well the trail needs to be relatively flatand this has meant bringing in crushed rock in some places tofill in the dips and gullies
In addition to constructing the trail Southern Vancouver Island Rail is installing signals at level rail crossings along the rail line including Intervale andHutchinson Roads in Esquimalt
These sections of the EampN Rail Trail on eitherside of the Songhees Nation reserve are expected tobe open this fall And while these may be helpful tosome bike commuters particularly those headingtoward CFB Esquimalt and the expanding Seaspanshipyards next door to CFB Esquimalt more work
remains to be doneThe short section between Wilson Street andEsquimalt Road in Vic West is still to be tackledalong with constructing a safe crossing for raitrail users at Esquimalt Road near Robert Street
Constructing the trail from the Old Island Highway to wesof Helmcken Road has not yet been scheduled Two bridges paralleling railway trestles (at the Old Island Highway
near the 4 Mile Pub and Helmcken Road in View Royal) wereconstructed to allow for the trail last year Construction of thelatter section of the rail trail would provide a level route towardthe West Shore Until this section of the trail is constructed cyclists wanting to use the new section of the trail that should open
EampN Rail ConstructionUpdate by Sam Macey
EampN Rail Trailsections shouldprovide manycommuters a
choice to use their
bikes rather thantheir cars
16 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1724
this summer will be faced with going up and over 4 Mile Hill
The Trail bypasses the Songhees Nation Reserve near Esqui-malt so cyclists will travel alongside Admirals Road betweenHallowell and Maplebank Roads to rejoin the Rail Trail This isa rather hilly detour from the level rail line
The Admirals RoadColville intersection was upgraded sev-eral years ago but little thought was given to adequately provid-ing for pedestrian and bike crossings
While lots of work remains to be done to fully complete theEampN Trail from east to west completion of these new sections
will be a change for the better Given all the residential develop
ment taking place on the Westshore these EampN Rail Trail sections should provide many commuters a choice to use their bikerather than their cars and thus avoid being stuck in the growingtraffic congestion that now sees both Old Island Highway andTrans Canada Highway traffic at a near standstill during morning and afternoon commutes
SAM MACEY is a GVCC Director anTheme Rides Committee leader
All photos by Sam Macey
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Cyclists and pedestrians crossing Admirals
Road at Colville will be a problem
2 Early work on the trail near Four Mile Hill
and Craigflower showing one of the drainage
problems
3 Rail Crossing control box by Hutchinson road
4 New drainage by trail
5 Removal of rock outcroppings
6 New paving new Hallowell The final result The
new trail has been built up and leveled proper
drainage lines were installed beneath the trail
surface
7 Mural on the navy drydock
8 New rock wall
Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 17983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1824
This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313720 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 2
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Itrsquos not just the traditional bike vacation orthe stereotype of a grubby loner cheapingout with a tent and a forestry campsite
but weekend riders with expensive bikes anda credit card looking for good food gooddrink and the mileage to earn the calories
Ten years ago I took a trip to the Seattle
Bike Show to promote Vancouver Island as acycling destination It was part of an initiativeenvisioned by Brian Hobson operations man-ager at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel who wasand still is years ahead of the curve
A thousand people flowed through thebooth I had with my marketing friend GeorgeAllen a fellow racer from the early days of thebike boom in the lsquo70s We designed a surveyand found what Brian had already discovered ndash bike holidays involved nice hotels cozy Band Brsquos and a more generous budget thanmost in the tourist industry assumed though
more are gaining that understandingIn the intervening years we produced a
couple of maps and struggling to find theformula to get it back into print itrsquos an ideathat has never gone away but seems like anidea whose time has really come
Event tourism is getting bigger withldquoGran Fondordquo events popping up in com-munities near and far ndash a couple in Victoriawhere hundreds or thousands for riders take
Cycling While that may
metaphor itrsquos
idays are in Y
trend across N
world Here to
Island or a shor
or the America
the steady stre
routes and trails
tracted by the
Victoria and S
the circle bette
La Route Verte Quebec by S Olmsted
Arbutus CoveGuest House
Te perfect overnightbike getaway from Victoria
and surrounding communities
Arbutus Cove is a beautiful waterfront bou-tique guest house located on the GallopingGoose trail 37 kilometers from Victoria onthe Sooke Basin a 3 hour ride
3 private deluxe rooms each with theirown entrances queen beds and full bath-rooms share a huge waterfront deck withhot tub await the cycling visitor
A 15 minute walk takes you to the 17 Mile
Pub for supper and a breakfast is servedbefore your departure
June 15 - Sept 14 $150 ( for 2)Sept 15 - June 14 $125 (for 2)
Reservations
wwwarbutuscoveguesthousecom
London England has aggressively increased cycling rates by
adding bike lanes cycle hire stations and recently committing to a $15 billion
10-year plan to create a complete cycling network in the city The mayor and
his team aim to ldquode-Lycra-fyrdquo cycling and get ldquonormal peoplerdquo on bikes as part
of every day life and the cityrsquos fabric ~The Guardian
Photos London bikeshare bikes ready for hire Shoreditch in use in Soho a
popular sticker commuters headed home and the view from a double deckerof bikes mixing with vehicle traffic in south London June 2013 by F Perryman 98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313712 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1324
e new golfng a little tired as a
e mark Active hol-
nd examples of a
rica and around the
oria and across the
y on the Gulf Islands
ans not to mention
yclists crowding the
ympic Peninsula at-
y of loop tours with
Most everyone likes
out and back ride)
Slickrock Trail Moab Utah by Trailsource
to the roads for day long loops of every roadthey can get local governments to carve offfor them The races out there are part of thatmarket too ndash they bring riders into a com-munity to fill up hotels and order dessertsat every turn They donrsquot just come to enjoythe ride they bring their 5000 calorie a day
appetites with them Do the mathVermontrsquos cycle tourism industry is big-
ger than maple syrup Nobody heard of Moabuntil mountain bikers made it a destinationVelo Quebec has created a powerhouse in-dustry around La Route Verte and createdthousands of jobs along with it The Okana-gan was in a panic when fire destroyed tres-tles along the Kettle Valley rail trail ndash Chamber of Commerce spokes-persons told anybody in themedia who would listen thatthe disaster could cost them
$5 million a year in lossesBack here in Victoria
we who see the world frombehind the handlebars haveknown for a long time whatan asset we have in our trailsnot just the roads and routesof the city and countryside Morethan a couple of million trips a year arerecorded on the Goose and Lochside Many
are of course local commuters but tens of thou-sands will be our visitor market or another sliceof the travel industry the local day traveler Thebakery in Sidney doesnrsquot care if the visitor isfrom Victoria or Virginia They just know thatsomeone on a bike discovered them on a bike
More are on the way The new EampN trail is
disjointed and incomplete but find your way oualong the corridor and you will see commutersand neighbourhood residents have already dis-covered what it has to offer The cycling touristswonrsquot be far behind if they arenrsquot there already
Before the Goose was done I was out explor-ing the emerging trail ndash no pavement no bridg-es no signs but the name had found its way to
New Zealand and some Kiwi on a bike wasstruggling up and down the slopes at
Wilkinson Rd where there is a trestlenow He wasnrsquot the first And moreclearly he was the very thin edge of
the wedge ndash a tsunami of riders iswashing up on our shores and wewould do well to make them feewelcome
JOHN LUTON is Executive Directorof Capital Bike and Walk which provides
consulting services on infrastructureand services for cycling and walking and
coordinates the Vancouver Island Cycle TourismAlliance to promote the Island as a cycling
destination He is a former president of the GVCC
a tsunamiof riders is
washing up onour shores
by JohnLuton
Kettle Valley BC by Spatialmongrel
theybring their
5000 caloriea day appetites with them Do
the math
Andalucia Spain The cities of southern Spain including Seville CordobaMalaga and Granada have taken their rate of cycling from nearly zero to more than double
that of Victoriarsquos Seville in 2006-7 added 120km of separated bike lanes and went from
5000 riders a day to over 72000 for a bike share of 7 ldquoSeville is now a cleaner
greener placeThe cycle lanes make it much easier to feel securerdquo
~ J Sanchez Seville
Photos L to R Sevici Bike share
in Seville (photo flickrcom)
separated bike lanes in Malaga
bike share outside Cordoba
train station tourism by bike -
Roman ruins in Malaga and a
local citizen in Malaga riding
its smooth flat routesPhotos
by F Perryman June 2013Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 13983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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W e in Victoria like to pride our-selves as a cycling destinationcity Indeed many visitors come
to Victoria to sample our cycle-friendli-ness Assets such as the Galloping Gooseand Lochside Trails a mild climate to cy-cle year-round our relative compactnessand our healthy active and sustainablelifestyle have all contributed to a vibrantcycling culture which many visitors haveadmired
Although I am bless-ed to live in a community
where it is fashionable tobike to the store the showor a coffee date as well aswork I have often won-dered if there are similarcities to ours where cy-cling is the thing to doand where people visit for the riding orculture
While reviewing a recent League ofAmerican Bicyclists commuter modeshare report (2010) 2 cities caught myattention Davis California with a 22mode share and Santa Barbara California
with 64 (For the record Greater Victo-ria is 59 the highest in Canada) SinceDavis is known historically as a cyclingcity and Santa Barbara is a popular train-ing ground for cycle racers I decided toexplore these cities for myself last May
Santa Barbara was my first stop Ar-riving by train from Los Angeles I no-ticed at least a dozen bikes passing the
station in my first 15 minuteshere Within hours of my
arrival I had a rental bike from SantaBarbara Bikes-to-Go all set up and wasgiven a tour of the city by Ralph Fer-tig a member of the SantaBarbara Bicycle Coalition(SBBC) While touring thecity I noticed that there is auniform look to many of thebuildings here all designed
in the Spanish adobe styleand fairly low rise (not ex-ceeding 6 stories)
Santa Barbara has some well-devel-oped bicycle facilities The best knownand most popular pathway is the Cabril-lo Boulevard bike path paralleling thebeachfront yielding tremendous viewsOn weekends this path can get busy withwalkers joggers in-line skaters and ofcourse cyclists Most cyclists are thoseon cruiser bikes enjoying a leisurely ride
Santa Barbara Countyhas 206 miles of bike lanes
and designated bike routesWhile some of these routesare well designed and con-venient other streets disap-pointingly have bike laneswhich permit cars to beparked in them during busi-
ness hours Other bike lanes are narrowlydesigned like those on State Street themain thoroughfare
Bike parking can also be an issuewhen parking downtown Most facilitiestend to accommodate cable lock parkingover u-lock parking as it may be more
convenient to carry these type of locksaround Unfortunately cable locks havetheir security shortcomings In additionmany public buildings down-town have the ldquowheel benderrdquokind of rack which not onlyprovides little protection fromtheft but could damage a bicy-clersquos wheels if knocked over For-tunately for commuters SantaBarbara has a Bikestation where
members can access secure bike parking247 as well as access repair facilitiesduring business hours
If there is hope for cy-cling facilities developmenin the future it can befound at the University oCalifornia Santa Barbarain suburban Goleta Sim
ilar to the University inVictoria in enrolment size(22000 students) the cam
pus looks very similar in layout to UVicminus the ring road Touring with UCSBPlanning Officer Steve Conner the cam-pus has rows and rows of bike parkingfor students many specifically designedto accommodate U-locks Bike paths areseparated from pedestrian traff ic and of-ten have roundabouts for traffic calmingAs the campus is 8 miles from Santa Bar-bara many of UCSBrsquos innovations havenot had any influence on Santa Barbararsquos
facilities development though this mayhopefully change with continued advoca-cy efforts from the SBBC
The main attractions for bicyclingvisitors to Santa Barbara are the bikepathways and scenic routes leading ouof town and into places such as Goletaand the Santa Ynez valley Pathways suchas the Coast Route and the Maria Ignacio Creek Route offer a safe and leisure-ly ride to Goleta Beach and the UCSBcampus The roads leading to Solvangand the Santa Ynez valley attract seriousroad riders as well as those who wish to
explore the vineyards of thatarea or view the
A TALE OFTWO CITIES
SANTA BARBARA
amp DAVIS CALIFORNIA
byDarrenMarr
PART 1 ndashSANTA BARBARA
14 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1524
scenes from the movie Sideways Ofcourse most visitors to the city renta bike or use a loaner from their hoteland ride along the Cabrillo Boulevardbike path
As for in-town attractions MissionSanta Barbara is a must if you are in-terested in the colonial history of thearea and the role of Catholic mission-aries in the development of California
society The Santa Barbara NaturalHistory Museum less than 1 km near-by has excellent exhibits on the landand marine wildlife plus indigenoussettlement of the area Though thereare bike friendly streets leading up tothe area be cautioned that the roadsleading there are hilly
Closer to downtown notable placesof interest include the Courthouse withits muraled courtrooms and bell tower
and the SantaBarbara Mu-seum of Art
both on StateStreet Closerto the beach-front you canfind the San-
ta Barbara Zoo Stearns Wharf withits shops and restaurants and ChasePalm Park with its turn of the centurycarousel If you are fortunate to be intown Tuesdays or Saturdays the San-ta Barbara Farmers Market has someof the finest organic produce fromaround Southern California
Overall Santa Barbara is a very
bikeable city with the Mediterraneanclimate and the compactness of the citycontributing to a vibrant cycling envi-ronment Thousands of people crowdedCabrillo Boulevard in mid-May to watchracers in the Amgen Tour De Californiapass through their community perhapsseeing a future Tour De France cham-pion in the making During the cityrsquosannual CycleMAYnia festival themedrides educational workshops and a bi-cycle fashion show dot the May calen-dar And with the cityrsquos bent on sustain-ability one is bound to find scores of
bicycles at the farmers marketsand at Earth Day celebrations
Makes you wonder if thecity had a few more mod-ern bicycle facilities justhow much more of a bi-cycle friendly communitySanta Barbara could po-tentially be
IF YOU GO
Please refer toRalph Fertigrsquosbicycle tour-ism websitebike-santabar-baraorg for in-formation ontours maps bi-cycle-friendly ac-commodation and bike rentals and shopsI found it to be an excellent resource on allthings cycling in Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalitionis located at 506 E Haley Street andhouses Bici Centro the non-profit bicy-cle repair and restoration shop operatedby the SBBC Programs run from theshop help support youth empowermentand cycling education outreach Web-site bicicentroorg
Did you know there is a GVCC inSanta Barbara The Goleta Valley Cy-cling Club (GVCC) holds recreationalrides around the Santa Barbara area 3times a week Check out their websitegoletabikeorg
Go by train Amtrakrsquos Pacific Sur-fliner route arrives from Los Angeles 5times daily There are bike racks on thetrain but they must be reserved in ad-vance You can also save 20 off yourfare by booking in advance Check outsantabarbaracarfreeorg
Thanks to Ralph Steve Kent Ep-person of Traffic Solutions and EdFrance SBBC Executive Director for
filling me in on the cycling advocacyscene in Santa Barbara
Next issue Part II DavisCalifornia
DARREN MARR is a past presidentof the GVCC and likes to explore
different cities by bike
Photos by D Marr
768 Yates Street Victoria downstairs from Lylersquos Pla
Cenote Restaurant and Loun
CyclistfriendlyGVCCmembersget 10off food
Just off the Goose thSelk Trest
Selkirk Station106-80 Regatta Landing l 250-383-1466
wwwselkirkstationcom
Sales - Service - Rentals - Tours
Elite Electric Bikes
Courtesy Bikes
wwwvictoriavelotechca
2002 Fernwood Road
Victoria BC V8T 2Y9
2509205520
infovictoriavelotechca
Vi
c
t
o
r
i
a
Ve
l
o
te
c
hPRO-SHOP
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 15
386-BIKE (24
1725 Quadra Street Victoria BC V8W 2Lwwwnorthparkbikeshopcom
Sales amp Repairs
10 OFFfor GVCC memb
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1624
W ork continues on constructing the EampN Rail Trail
along the EampN rail line from Victoria to LangfordThe trail is planned to eventually join with the future
Trans Canada Trail running north up Vancouver Island So faronly a few sections are officially open Given that trail construc-tion began in 2010 and is projected to take sev-eral more years to be fully completed now is agood time to consider the challenges in build-ing the Rail Trail
In January 2013 Scansa Construction wasawarded a $196 million contract by CRD for thesections between Colville and Admirals Roadand Maplebank Road (just east of the SongheesNation reserve) and between Hallowell Road
and Craigflower Road by the Four Mile Pub(just northwest of the Songhees reserve)Building the trail is much more than sim-
ply bulldozing trees and brush out of the wayand laying down a layer of asphalt Thereneeds to be a solid roadbed underneath the asphalt in order tohave a smooth level surface that is stable There also needs tobe a drainage system so that rain and surface water will not
wash out the trailIn some places there were large rock outcroppings
that needed to be removed by blasting Howeverthere are houses very close to ndash and in some
cases built on ndash these rock outcroppings so
the blasting had to be carefully controlled to prevent damage to
nearby buildings As well the trail needs to be relatively flatand this has meant bringing in crushed rock in some places tofill in the dips and gullies
In addition to constructing the trail Southern Vancouver Island Rail is installing signals at level rail crossings along the rail line including Intervale andHutchinson Roads in Esquimalt
These sections of the EampN Rail Trail on eitherside of the Songhees Nation reserve are expected tobe open this fall And while these may be helpful tosome bike commuters particularly those headingtoward CFB Esquimalt and the expanding Seaspanshipyards next door to CFB Esquimalt more work
remains to be doneThe short section between Wilson Street andEsquimalt Road in Vic West is still to be tackledalong with constructing a safe crossing for raitrail users at Esquimalt Road near Robert Street
Constructing the trail from the Old Island Highway to wesof Helmcken Road has not yet been scheduled Two bridges paralleling railway trestles (at the Old Island Highway
near the 4 Mile Pub and Helmcken Road in View Royal) wereconstructed to allow for the trail last year Construction of thelatter section of the rail trail would provide a level route towardthe West Shore Until this section of the trail is constructed cyclists wanting to use the new section of the trail that should open
EampN Rail ConstructionUpdate by Sam Macey
EampN Rail Trailsections shouldprovide manycommuters a
choice to use their
bikes rather thantheir cars
16 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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this summer will be faced with going up and over 4 Mile Hill
The Trail bypasses the Songhees Nation Reserve near Esqui-malt so cyclists will travel alongside Admirals Road betweenHallowell and Maplebank Roads to rejoin the Rail Trail This isa rather hilly detour from the level rail line
The Admirals RoadColville intersection was upgraded sev-eral years ago but little thought was given to adequately provid-ing for pedestrian and bike crossings
While lots of work remains to be done to fully complete theEampN Trail from east to west completion of these new sections
will be a change for the better Given all the residential develop
ment taking place on the Westshore these EampN Rail Trail sections should provide many commuters a choice to use their bikerather than their cars and thus avoid being stuck in the growingtraffic congestion that now sees both Old Island Highway andTrans Canada Highway traffic at a near standstill during morning and afternoon commutes
SAM MACEY is a GVCC Director anTheme Rides Committee leader
All photos by Sam Macey
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Cyclists and pedestrians crossing Admirals
Road at Colville will be a problem
2 Early work on the trail near Four Mile Hill
and Craigflower showing one of the drainage
problems
3 Rail Crossing control box by Hutchinson road
4 New drainage by trail
5 Removal of rock outcroppings
6 New paving new Hallowell The final result The
new trail has been built up and leveled proper
drainage lines were installed beneath the trail
surface
7 Mural on the navy drydock
8 New rock wall
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 2
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2424
Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1324
e new golfng a little tired as a
e mark Active hol-
nd examples of a
rica and around the
oria and across the
y on the Gulf Islands
ans not to mention
yclists crowding the
ympic Peninsula at-
y of loop tours with
Most everyone likes
out and back ride)
Slickrock Trail Moab Utah by Trailsource
to the roads for day long loops of every roadthey can get local governments to carve offfor them The races out there are part of thatmarket too ndash they bring riders into a com-munity to fill up hotels and order dessertsat every turn They donrsquot just come to enjoythe ride they bring their 5000 calorie a day
appetites with them Do the mathVermontrsquos cycle tourism industry is big-
ger than maple syrup Nobody heard of Moabuntil mountain bikers made it a destinationVelo Quebec has created a powerhouse in-dustry around La Route Verte and createdthousands of jobs along with it The Okana-gan was in a panic when fire destroyed tres-tles along the Kettle Valley rail trail ndash Chamber of Commerce spokes-persons told anybody in themedia who would listen thatthe disaster could cost them
$5 million a year in lossesBack here in Victoria
we who see the world frombehind the handlebars haveknown for a long time whatan asset we have in our trailsnot just the roads and routesof the city and countryside Morethan a couple of million trips a year arerecorded on the Goose and Lochside Many
are of course local commuters but tens of thou-sands will be our visitor market or another sliceof the travel industry the local day traveler Thebakery in Sidney doesnrsquot care if the visitor isfrom Victoria or Virginia They just know thatsomeone on a bike discovered them on a bike
More are on the way The new EampN trail is
disjointed and incomplete but find your way oualong the corridor and you will see commutersand neighbourhood residents have already dis-covered what it has to offer The cycling touristswonrsquot be far behind if they arenrsquot there already
Before the Goose was done I was out explor-ing the emerging trail ndash no pavement no bridg-es no signs but the name had found its way to
New Zealand and some Kiwi on a bike wasstruggling up and down the slopes at
Wilkinson Rd where there is a trestlenow He wasnrsquot the first And moreclearly he was the very thin edge of
the wedge ndash a tsunami of riders iswashing up on our shores and wewould do well to make them feewelcome
JOHN LUTON is Executive Directorof Capital Bike and Walk which provides
consulting services on infrastructureand services for cycling and walking and
coordinates the Vancouver Island Cycle TourismAlliance to promote the Island as a cycling
destination He is a former president of the GVCC
a tsunamiof riders is
washing up onour shores
by JohnLuton
Kettle Valley BC by Spatialmongrel
theybring their
5000 caloriea day appetites with them Do
the math
Andalucia Spain The cities of southern Spain including Seville CordobaMalaga and Granada have taken their rate of cycling from nearly zero to more than double
that of Victoriarsquos Seville in 2006-7 added 120km of separated bike lanes and went from
5000 riders a day to over 72000 for a bike share of 7 ldquoSeville is now a cleaner
greener placeThe cycle lanes make it much easier to feel securerdquo
~ J Sanchez Seville
Photos L to R Sevici Bike share
in Seville (photo flickrcom)
separated bike lanes in Malaga
bike share outside Cordoba
train station tourism by bike -
Roman ruins in Malaga and a
local citizen in Malaga riding
its smooth flat routesPhotos
by F Perryman June 2013Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 13983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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W e in Victoria like to pride our-selves as a cycling destinationcity Indeed many visitors come
to Victoria to sample our cycle-friendli-ness Assets such as the Galloping Gooseand Lochside Trails a mild climate to cy-cle year-round our relative compactnessand our healthy active and sustainablelifestyle have all contributed to a vibrantcycling culture which many visitors haveadmired
Although I am bless-ed to live in a community
where it is fashionable tobike to the store the showor a coffee date as well aswork I have often won-dered if there are similarcities to ours where cy-cling is the thing to doand where people visit for the riding orculture
While reviewing a recent League ofAmerican Bicyclists commuter modeshare report (2010) 2 cities caught myattention Davis California with a 22mode share and Santa Barbara California
with 64 (For the record Greater Victo-ria is 59 the highest in Canada) SinceDavis is known historically as a cyclingcity and Santa Barbara is a popular train-ing ground for cycle racers I decided toexplore these cities for myself last May
Santa Barbara was my first stop Ar-riving by train from Los Angeles I no-ticed at least a dozen bikes passing the
station in my first 15 minuteshere Within hours of my
arrival I had a rental bike from SantaBarbara Bikes-to-Go all set up and wasgiven a tour of the city by Ralph Fer-tig a member of the SantaBarbara Bicycle Coalition(SBBC) While touring thecity I noticed that there is auniform look to many of thebuildings here all designed
in the Spanish adobe styleand fairly low rise (not ex-ceeding 6 stories)
Santa Barbara has some well-devel-oped bicycle facilities The best knownand most popular pathway is the Cabril-lo Boulevard bike path paralleling thebeachfront yielding tremendous viewsOn weekends this path can get busy withwalkers joggers in-line skaters and ofcourse cyclists Most cyclists are thoseon cruiser bikes enjoying a leisurely ride
Santa Barbara Countyhas 206 miles of bike lanes
and designated bike routesWhile some of these routesare well designed and con-venient other streets disap-pointingly have bike laneswhich permit cars to beparked in them during busi-
ness hours Other bike lanes are narrowlydesigned like those on State Street themain thoroughfare
Bike parking can also be an issuewhen parking downtown Most facilitiestend to accommodate cable lock parkingover u-lock parking as it may be more
convenient to carry these type of locksaround Unfortunately cable locks havetheir security shortcomings In additionmany public buildings down-town have the ldquowheel benderrdquokind of rack which not onlyprovides little protection fromtheft but could damage a bicy-clersquos wheels if knocked over For-tunately for commuters SantaBarbara has a Bikestation where
members can access secure bike parking247 as well as access repair facilitiesduring business hours
If there is hope for cy-cling facilities developmenin the future it can befound at the University oCalifornia Santa Barbarain suburban Goleta Sim
ilar to the University inVictoria in enrolment size(22000 students) the cam
pus looks very similar in layout to UVicminus the ring road Touring with UCSBPlanning Officer Steve Conner the cam-pus has rows and rows of bike parkingfor students many specifically designedto accommodate U-locks Bike paths areseparated from pedestrian traff ic and of-ten have roundabouts for traffic calmingAs the campus is 8 miles from Santa Bar-bara many of UCSBrsquos innovations havenot had any influence on Santa Barbararsquos
facilities development though this mayhopefully change with continued advoca-cy efforts from the SBBC
The main attractions for bicyclingvisitors to Santa Barbara are the bikepathways and scenic routes leading ouof town and into places such as Goletaand the Santa Ynez valley Pathways suchas the Coast Route and the Maria Ignacio Creek Route offer a safe and leisure-ly ride to Goleta Beach and the UCSBcampus The roads leading to Solvangand the Santa Ynez valley attract seriousroad riders as well as those who wish to
explore the vineyards of thatarea or view the
A TALE OFTWO CITIES
SANTA BARBARA
amp DAVIS CALIFORNIA
byDarrenMarr
PART 1 ndashSANTA BARBARA
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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scenes from the movie Sideways Ofcourse most visitors to the city renta bike or use a loaner from their hoteland ride along the Cabrillo Boulevardbike path
As for in-town attractions MissionSanta Barbara is a must if you are in-terested in the colonial history of thearea and the role of Catholic mission-aries in the development of California
society The Santa Barbara NaturalHistory Museum less than 1 km near-by has excellent exhibits on the landand marine wildlife plus indigenoussettlement of the area Though thereare bike friendly streets leading up tothe area be cautioned that the roadsleading there are hilly
Closer to downtown notable placesof interest include the Courthouse withits muraled courtrooms and bell tower
and the SantaBarbara Mu-seum of Art
both on StateStreet Closerto the beach-front you canfind the San-
ta Barbara Zoo Stearns Wharf withits shops and restaurants and ChasePalm Park with its turn of the centurycarousel If you are fortunate to be intown Tuesdays or Saturdays the San-ta Barbara Farmers Market has someof the finest organic produce fromaround Southern California
Overall Santa Barbara is a very
bikeable city with the Mediterraneanclimate and the compactness of the citycontributing to a vibrant cycling envi-ronment Thousands of people crowdedCabrillo Boulevard in mid-May to watchracers in the Amgen Tour De Californiapass through their community perhapsseeing a future Tour De France cham-pion in the making During the cityrsquosannual CycleMAYnia festival themedrides educational workshops and a bi-cycle fashion show dot the May calen-dar And with the cityrsquos bent on sustain-ability one is bound to find scores of
bicycles at the farmers marketsand at Earth Day celebrations
Makes you wonder if thecity had a few more mod-ern bicycle facilities justhow much more of a bi-cycle friendly communitySanta Barbara could po-tentially be
IF YOU GO
Please refer toRalph Fertigrsquosbicycle tour-ism websitebike-santabar-baraorg for in-formation ontours maps bi-cycle-friendly ac-commodation and bike rentals and shopsI found it to be an excellent resource on allthings cycling in Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalitionis located at 506 E Haley Street andhouses Bici Centro the non-profit bicy-cle repair and restoration shop operatedby the SBBC Programs run from theshop help support youth empowermentand cycling education outreach Web-site bicicentroorg
Did you know there is a GVCC inSanta Barbara The Goleta Valley Cy-cling Club (GVCC) holds recreationalrides around the Santa Barbara area 3times a week Check out their websitegoletabikeorg
Go by train Amtrakrsquos Pacific Sur-fliner route arrives from Los Angeles 5times daily There are bike racks on thetrain but they must be reserved in ad-vance You can also save 20 off yourfare by booking in advance Check outsantabarbaracarfreeorg
Thanks to Ralph Steve Kent Ep-person of Traffic Solutions and EdFrance SBBC Executive Director for
filling me in on the cycling advocacyscene in Santa Barbara
Next issue Part II DavisCalifornia
DARREN MARR is a past presidentof the GVCC and likes to explore
different cities by bike
Photos by D Marr
768 Yates Street Victoria downstairs from Lylersquos Pla
Cenote Restaurant and Loun
CyclistfriendlyGVCCmembersget 10off food
Just off the Goose thSelk Trest
Selkirk Station106-80 Regatta Landing l 250-383-1466
wwwselkirkstationcom
Sales - Service - Rentals - Tours
Elite Electric Bikes
Courtesy Bikes
wwwvictoriavelotechca
2002 Fernwood Road
Victoria BC V8T 2Y9
2509205520
infovictoriavelotechca
Vi
c
t
o
r
i
a
Ve
l
o
te
c
hPRO-SHOP
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 15
386-BIKE (24
1725 Quadra Street Victoria BC V8W 2Lwwwnorthparkbikeshopcom
Sales amp Repairs
10 OFFfor GVCC memb
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1624
W ork continues on constructing the EampN Rail Trail
along the EampN rail line from Victoria to LangfordThe trail is planned to eventually join with the future
Trans Canada Trail running north up Vancouver Island So faronly a few sections are officially open Given that trail construc-tion began in 2010 and is projected to take sev-eral more years to be fully completed now is agood time to consider the challenges in build-ing the Rail Trail
In January 2013 Scansa Construction wasawarded a $196 million contract by CRD for thesections between Colville and Admirals Roadand Maplebank Road (just east of the SongheesNation reserve) and between Hallowell Road
and Craigflower Road by the Four Mile Pub(just northwest of the Songhees reserve)Building the trail is much more than sim-
ply bulldozing trees and brush out of the wayand laying down a layer of asphalt Thereneeds to be a solid roadbed underneath the asphalt in order tohave a smooth level surface that is stable There also needs tobe a drainage system so that rain and surface water will not
wash out the trailIn some places there were large rock outcroppings
that needed to be removed by blasting Howeverthere are houses very close to ndash and in some
cases built on ndash these rock outcroppings so
the blasting had to be carefully controlled to prevent damage to
nearby buildings As well the trail needs to be relatively flatand this has meant bringing in crushed rock in some places tofill in the dips and gullies
In addition to constructing the trail Southern Vancouver Island Rail is installing signals at level rail crossings along the rail line including Intervale andHutchinson Roads in Esquimalt
These sections of the EampN Rail Trail on eitherside of the Songhees Nation reserve are expected tobe open this fall And while these may be helpful tosome bike commuters particularly those headingtoward CFB Esquimalt and the expanding Seaspanshipyards next door to CFB Esquimalt more work
remains to be doneThe short section between Wilson Street andEsquimalt Road in Vic West is still to be tackledalong with constructing a safe crossing for raitrail users at Esquimalt Road near Robert Street
Constructing the trail from the Old Island Highway to wesof Helmcken Road has not yet been scheduled Two bridges paralleling railway trestles (at the Old Island Highway
near the 4 Mile Pub and Helmcken Road in View Royal) wereconstructed to allow for the trail last year Construction of thelatter section of the rail trail would provide a level route towardthe West Shore Until this section of the trail is constructed cyclists wanting to use the new section of the trail that should open
EampN Rail ConstructionUpdate by Sam Macey
EampN Rail Trailsections shouldprovide manycommuters a
choice to use their
bikes rather thantheir cars
16 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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this summer will be faced with going up and over 4 Mile Hill
The Trail bypasses the Songhees Nation Reserve near Esqui-malt so cyclists will travel alongside Admirals Road betweenHallowell and Maplebank Roads to rejoin the Rail Trail This isa rather hilly detour from the level rail line
The Admirals RoadColville intersection was upgraded sev-eral years ago but little thought was given to adequately provid-ing for pedestrian and bike crossings
While lots of work remains to be done to fully complete theEampN Trail from east to west completion of these new sections
will be a change for the better Given all the residential develop
ment taking place on the Westshore these EampN Rail Trail sections should provide many commuters a choice to use their bikerather than their cars and thus avoid being stuck in the growingtraffic congestion that now sees both Old Island Highway andTrans Canada Highway traffic at a near standstill during morning and afternoon commutes
SAM MACEY is a GVCC Director anTheme Rides Committee leader
All photos by Sam Macey
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Cyclists and pedestrians crossing Admirals
Road at Colville will be a problem
2 Early work on the trail near Four Mile Hill
and Craigflower showing one of the drainage
problems
3 Rail Crossing control box by Hutchinson road
4 New drainage by trail
5 Removal of rock outcroppings
6 New paving new Hallowell The final result The
new trail has been built up and leveled proper
drainage lines were installed beneath the trail
surface
7 Mural on the navy drydock
8 New rock wall
Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 17983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 19983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313720 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1424
W e in Victoria like to pride our-selves as a cycling destinationcity Indeed many visitors come
to Victoria to sample our cycle-friendli-ness Assets such as the Galloping Gooseand Lochside Trails a mild climate to cy-cle year-round our relative compactnessand our healthy active and sustainablelifestyle have all contributed to a vibrantcycling culture which many visitors haveadmired
Although I am bless-ed to live in a community
where it is fashionable tobike to the store the showor a coffee date as well aswork I have often won-dered if there are similarcities to ours where cy-cling is the thing to doand where people visit for the riding orculture
While reviewing a recent League ofAmerican Bicyclists commuter modeshare report (2010) 2 cities caught myattention Davis California with a 22mode share and Santa Barbara California
with 64 (For the record Greater Victo-ria is 59 the highest in Canada) SinceDavis is known historically as a cyclingcity and Santa Barbara is a popular train-ing ground for cycle racers I decided toexplore these cities for myself last May
Santa Barbara was my first stop Ar-riving by train from Los Angeles I no-ticed at least a dozen bikes passing the
station in my first 15 minuteshere Within hours of my
arrival I had a rental bike from SantaBarbara Bikes-to-Go all set up and wasgiven a tour of the city by Ralph Fer-tig a member of the SantaBarbara Bicycle Coalition(SBBC) While touring thecity I noticed that there is auniform look to many of thebuildings here all designed
in the Spanish adobe styleand fairly low rise (not ex-ceeding 6 stories)
Santa Barbara has some well-devel-oped bicycle facilities The best knownand most popular pathway is the Cabril-lo Boulevard bike path paralleling thebeachfront yielding tremendous viewsOn weekends this path can get busy withwalkers joggers in-line skaters and ofcourse cyclists Most cyclists are thoseon cruiser bikes enjoying a leisurely ride
Santa Barbara Countyhas 206 miles of bike lanes
and designated bike routesWhile some of these routesare well designed and con-venient other streets disap-pointingly have bike laneswhich permit cars to beparked in them during busi-
ness hours Other bike lanes are narrowlydesigned like those on State Street themain thoroughfare
Bike parking can also be an issuewhen parking downtown Most facilitiestend to accommodate cable lock parkingover u-lock parking as it may be more
convenient to carry these type of locksaround Unfortunately cable locks havetheir security shortcomings In additionmany public buildings down-town have the ldquowheel benderrdquokind of rack which not onlyprovides little protection fromtheft but could damage a bicy-clersquos wheels if knocked over For-tunately for commuters SantaBarbara has a Bikestation where
members can access secure bike parking247 as well as access repair facilitiesduring business hours
If there is hope for cy-cling facilities developmenin the future it can befound at the University oCalifornia Santa Barbarain suburban Goleta Sim
ilar to the University inVictoria in enrolment size(22000 students) the cam
pus looks very similar in layout to UVicminus the ring road Touring with UCSBPlanning Officer Steve Conner the cam-pus has rows and rows of bike parkingfor students many specifically designedto accommodate U-locks Bike paths areseparated from pedestrian traff ic and of-ten have roundabouts for traffic calmingAs the campus is 8 miles from Santa Bar-bara many of UCSBrsquos innovations havenot had any influence on Santa Barbararsquos
facilities development though this mayhopefully change with continued advoca-cy efforts from the SBBC
The main attractions for bicyclingvisitors to Santa Barbara are the bikepathways and scenic routes leading ouof town and into places such as Goletaand the Santa Ynez valley Pathways suchas the Coast Route and the Maria Ignacio Creek Route offer a safe and leisure-ly ride to Goleta Beach and the UCSBcampus The roads leading to Solvangand the Santa Ynez valley attract seriousroad riders as well as those who wish to
explore the vineyards of thatarea or view the
A TALE OFTWO CITIES
SANTA BARBARA
amp DAVIS CALIFORNIA
byDarrenMarr
PART 1 ndashSANTA BARBARA
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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scenes from the movie Sideways Ofcourse most visitors to the city renta bike or use a loaner from their hoteland ride along the Cabrillo Boulevardbike path
As for in-town attractions MissionSanta Barbara is a must if you are in-terested in the colonial history of thearea and the role of Catholic mission-aries in the development of California
society The Santa Barbara NaturalHistory Museum less than 1 km near-by has excellent exhibits on the landand marine wildlife plus indigenoussettlement of the area Though thereare bike friendly streets leading up tothe area be cautioned that the roadsleading there are hilly
Closer to downtown notable placesof interest include the Courthouse withits muraled courtrooms and bell tower
and the SantaBarbara Mu-seum of Art
both on StateStreet Closerto the beach-front you canfind the San-
ta Barbara Zoo Stearns Wharf withits shops and restaurants and ChasePalm Park with its turn of the centurycarousel If you are fortunate to be intown Tuesdays or Saturdays the San-ta Barbara Farmers Market has someof the finest organic produce fromaround Southern California
Overall Santa Barbara is a very
bikeable city with the Mediterraneanclimate and the compactness of the citycontributing to a vibrant cycling envi-ronment Thousands of people crowdedCabrillo Boulevard in mid-May to watchracers in the Amgen Tour De Californiapass through their community perhapsseeing a future Tour De France cham-pion in the making During the cityrsquosannual CycleMAYnia festival themedrides educational workshops and a bi-cycle fashion show dot the May calen-dar And with the cityrsquos bent on sustain-ability one is bound to find scores of
bicycles at the farmers marketsand at Earth Day celebrations
Makes you wonder if thecity had a few more mod-ern bicycle facilities justhow much more of a bi-cycle friendly communitySanta Barbara could po-tentially be
IF YOU GO
Please refer toRalph Fertigrsquosbicycle tour-ism websitebike-santabar-baraorg for in-formation ontours maps bi-cycle-friendly ac-commodation and bike rentals and shopsI found it to be an excellent resource on allthings cycling in Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalitionis located at 506 E Haley Street andhouses Bici Centro the non-profit bicy-cle repair and restoration shop operatedby the SBBC Programs run from theshop help support youth empowermentand cycling education outreach Web-site bicicentroorg
Did you know there is a GVCC inSanta Barbara The Goleta Valley Cy-cling Club (GVCC) holds recreationalrides around the Santa Barbara area 3times a week Check out their websitegoletabikeorg
Go by train Amtrakrsquos Pacific Sur-fliner route arrives from Los Angeles 5times daily There are bike racks on thetrain but they must be reserved in ad-vance You can also save 20 off yourfare by booking in advance Check outsantabarbaracarfreeorg
Thanks to Ralph Steve Kent Ep-person of Traffic Solutions and EdFrance SBBC Executive Director for
filling me in on the cycling advocacyscene in Santa Barbara
Next issue Part II DavisCalifornia
DARREN MARR is a past presidentof the GVCC and likes to explore
different cities by bike
Photos by D Marr
768 Yates Street Victoria downstairs from Lylersquos Pla
Cenote Restaurant and Loun
CyclistfriendlyGVCCmembersget 10off food
Just off the Goose thSelk Trest
Selkirk Station106-80 Regatta Landing l 250-383-1466
wwwselkirkstationcom
Sales - Service - Rentals - Tours
Elite Electric Bikes
Courtesy Bikes
wwwvictoriavelotechca
2002 Fernwood Road
Victoria BC V8T 2Y9
2509205520
infovictoriavelotechca
Vi
c
t
o
r
i
a
Ve
l
o
te
c
hPRO-SHOP
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 15
386-BIKE (24
1725 Quadra Street Victoria BC V8W 2Lwwwnorthparkbikeshopcom
Sales amp Repairs
10 OFFfor GVCC memb
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1624
W ork continues on constructing the EampN Rail Trail
along the EampN rail line from Victoria to LangfordThe trail is planned to eventually join with the future
Trans Canada Trail running north up Vancouver Island So faronly a few sections are officially open Given that trail construc-tion began in 2010 and is projected to take sev-eral more years to be fully completed now is agood time to consider the challenges in build-ing the Rail Trail
In January 2013 Scansa Construction wasawarded a $196 million contract by CRD for thesections between Colville and Admirals Roadand Maplebank Road (just east of the SongheesNation reserve) and between Hallowell Road
and Craigflower Road by the Four Mile Pub(just northwest of the Songhees reserve)Building the trail is much more than sim-
ply bulldozing trees and brush out of the wayand laying down a layer of asphalt Thereneeds to be a solid roadbed underneath the asphalt in order tohave a smooth level surface that is stable There also needs tobe a drainage system so that rain and surface water will not
wash out the trailIn some places there were large rock outcroppings
that needed to be removed by blasting Howeverthere are houses very close to ndash and in some
cases built on ndash these rock outcroppings so
the blasting had to be carefully controlled to prevent damage to
nearby buildings As well the trail needs to be relatively flatand this has meant bringing in crushed rock in some places tofill in the dips and gullies
In addition to constructing the trail Southern Vancouver Island Rail is installing signals at level rail crossings along the rail line including Intervale andHutchinson Roads in Esquimalt
These sections of the EampN Rail Trail on eitherside of the Songhees Nation reserve are expected tobe open this fall And while these may be helpful tosome bike commuters particularly those headingtoward CFB Esquimalt and the expanding Seaspanshipyards next door to CFB Esquimalt more work
remains to be doneThe short section between Wilson Street andEsquimalt Road in Vic West is still to be tackledalong with constructing a safe crossing for raitrail users at Esquimalt Road near Robert Street
Constructing the trail from the Old Island Highway to wesof Helmcken Road has not yet been scheduled Two bridges paralleling railway trestles (at the Old Island Highway
near the 4 Mile Pub and Helmcken Road in View Royal) wereconstructed to allow for the trail last year Construction of thelatter section of the rail trail would provide a level route towardthe West Shore Until this section of the trail is constructed cyclists wanting to use the new section of the trail that should open
EampN Rail ConstructionUpdate by Sam Macey
EampN Rail Trailsections shouldprovide manycommuters a
choice to use their
bikes rather thantheir cars
16 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1724
this summer will be faced with going up and over 4 Mile Hill
The Trail bypasses the Songhees Nation Reserve near Esqui-malt so cyclists will travel alongside Admirals Road betweenHallowell and Maplebank Roads to rejoin the Rail Trail This isa rather hilly detour from the level rail line
The Admirals RoadColville intersection was upgraded sev-eral years ago but little thought was given to adequately provid-ing for pedestrian and bike crossings
While lots of work remains to be done to fully complete theEampN Trail from east to west completion of these new sections
will be a change for the better Given all the residential develop
ment taking place on the Westshore these EampN Rail Trail sections should provide many commuters a choice to use their bikerather than their cars and thus avoid being stuck in the growingtraffic congestion that now sees both Old Island Highway andTrans Canada Highway traffic at a near standstill during morning and afternoon commutes
SAM MACEY is a GVCC Director anTheme Rides Committee leader
All photos by Sam Macey
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Cyclists and pedestrians crossing Admirals
Road at Colville will be a problem
2 Early work on the trail near Four Mile Hill
and Craigflower showing one of the drainage
problems
3 Rail Crossing control box by Hutchinson road
4 New drainage by trail
5 Removal of rock outcroppings
6 New paving new Hallowell The final result The
new trail has been built up and leveled proper
drainage lines were installed beneath the trail
surface
7 Mural on the navy drydock
8 New rock wall
Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 17983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1824
This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
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Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
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passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
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LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
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This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
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CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
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Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
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scenes from the movie Sideways Ofcourse most visitors to the city renta bike or use a loaner from their hoteland ride along the Cabrillo Boulevardbike path
As for in-town attractions MissionSanta Barbara is a must if you are in-terested in the colonial history of thearea and the role of Catholic mission-aries in the development of California
society The Santa Barbara NaturalHistory Museum less than 1 km near-by has excellent exhibits on the landand marine wildlife plus indigenoussettlement of the area Though thereare bike friendly streets leading up tothe area be cautioned that the roadsleading there are hilly
Closer to downtown notable placesof interest include the Courthouse withits muraled courtrooms and bell tower
and the SantaBarbara Mu-seum of Art
both on StateStreet Closerto the beach-front you canfind the San-
ta Barbara Zoo Stearns Wharf withits shops and restaurants and ChasePalm Park with its turn of the centurycarousel If you are fortunate to be intown Tuesdays or Saturdays the San-ta Barbara Farmers Market has someof the finest organic produce fromaround Southern California
Overall Santa Barbara is a very
bikeable city with the Mediterraneanclimate and the compactness of the citycontributing to a vibrant cycling envi-ronment Thousands of people crowdedCabrillo Boulevard in mid-May to watchracers in the Amgen Tour De Californiapass through their community perhapsseeing a future Tour De France cham-pion in the making During the cityrsquosannual CycleMAYnia festival themedrides educational workshops and a bi-cycle fashion show dot the May calen-dar And with the cityrsquos bent on sustain-ability one is bound to find scores of
bicycles at the farmers marketsand at Earth Day celebrations
Makes you wonder if thecity had a few more mod-ern bicycle facilities justhow much more of a bi-cycle friendly communitySanta Barbara could po-tentially be
IF YOU GO
Please refer toRalph Fertigrsquosbicycle tour-ism websitebike-santabar-baraorg for in-formation ontours maps bi-cycle-friendly ac-commodation and bike rentals and shopsI found it to be an excellent resource on allthings cycling in Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalitionis located at 506 E Haley Street andhouses Bici Centro the non-profit bicy-cle repair and restoration shop operatedby the SBBC Programs run from theshop help support youth empowermentand cycling education outreach Web-site bicicentroorg
Did you know there is a GVCC inSanta Barbara The Goleta Valley Cy-cling Club (GVCC) holds recreationalrides around the Santa Barbara area 3times a week Check out their websitegoletabikeorg
Go by train Amtrakrsquos Pacific Sur-fliner route arrives from Los Angeles 5times daily There are bike racks on thetrain but they must be reserved in ad-vance You can also save 20 off yourfare by booking in advance Check outsantabarbaracarfreeorg
Thanks to Ralph Steve Kent Ep-person of Traffic Solutions and EdFrance SBBC Executive Director for
filling me in on the cycling advocacyscene in Santa Barbara
Next issue Part II DavisCalifornia
DARREN MARR is a past presidentof the GVCC and likes to explore
different cities by bike
Photos by D Marr
768 Yates Street Victoria downstairs from Lylersquos Pla
Cenote Restaurant and Loun
CyclistfriendlyGVCCmembersget 10off food
Just off the Goose thSelk Trest
Selkirk Station106-80 Regatta Landing l 250-383-1466
wwwselkirkstationcom
Sales - Service - Rentals - Tours
Elite Electric Bikes
Courtesy Bikes
wwwvictoriavelotechca
2002 Fernwood Road
Victoria BC V8T 2Y9
2509205520
infovictoriavelotechca
Vi
c
t
o
r
i
a
Ve
l
o
te
c
hPRO-SHOP
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 15
386-BIKE (24
1725 Quadra Street Victoria BC V8W 2Lwwwnorthparkbikeshopcom
Sales amp Repairs
10 OFFfor GVCC memb
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1624
W ork continues on constructing the EampN Rail Trail
along the EampN rail line from Victoria to LangfordThe trail is planned to eventually join with the future
Trans Canada Trail running north up Vancouver Island So faronly a few sections are officially open Given that trail construc-tion began in 2010 and is projected to take sev-eral more years to be fully completed now is agood time to consider the challenges in build-ing the Rail Trail
In January 2013 Scansa Construction wasawarded a $196 million contract by CRD for thesections between Colville and Admirals Roadand Maplebank Road (just east of the SongheesNation reserve) and between Hallowell Road
and Craigflower Road by the Four Mile Pub(just northwest of the Songhees reserve)Building the trail is much more than sim-
ply bulldozing trees and brush out of the wayand laying down a layer of asphalt Thereneeds to be a solid roadbed underneath the asphalt in order tohave a smooth level surface that is stable There also needs tobe a drainage system so that rain and surface water will not
wash out the trailIn some places there were large rock outcroppings
that needed to be removed by blasting Howeverthere are houses very close to ndash and in some
cases built on ndash these rock outcroppings so
the blasting had to be carefully controlled to prevent damage to
nearby buildings As well the trail needs to be relatively flatand this has meant bringing in crushed rock in some places tofill in the dips and gullies
In addition to constructing the trail Southern Vancouver Island Rail is installing signals at level rail crossings along the rail line including Intervale andHutchinson Roads in Esquimalt
These sections of the EampN Rail Trail on eitherside of the Songhees Nation reserve are expected tobe open this fall And while these may be helpful tosome bike commuters particularly those headingtoward CFB Esquimalt and the expanding Seaspanshipyards next door to CFB Esquimalt more work
remains to be doneThe short section between Wilson Street andEsquimalt Road in Vic West is still to be tackledalong with constructing a safe crossing for raitrail users at Esquimalt Road near Robert Street
Constructing the trail from the Old Island Highway to wesof Helmcken Road has not yet been scheduled Two bridges paralleling railway trestles (at the Old Island Highway
near the 4 Mile Pub and Helmcken Road in View Royal) wereconstructed to allow for the trail last year Construction of thelatter section of the rail trail would provide a level route towardthe West Shore Until this section of the trail is constructed cyclists wanting to use the new section of the trail that should open
EampN Rail ConstructionUpdate by Sam Macey
EampN Rail Trailsections shouldprovide manycommuters a
choice to use their
bikes rather thantheir cars
16 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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this summer will be faced with going up and over 4 Mile Hill
The Trail bypasses the Songhees Nation Reserve near Esqui-malt so cyclists will travel alongside Admirals Road betweenHallowell and Maplebank Roads to rejoin the Rail Trail This isa rather hilly detour from the level rail line
The Admirals RoadColville intersection was upgraded sev-eral years ago but little thought was given to adequately provid-ing for pedestrian and bike crossings
While lots of work remains to be done to fully complete theEampN Trail from east to west completion of these new sections
will be a change for the better Given all the residential develop
ment taking place on the Westshore these EampN Rail Trail sections should provide many commuters a choice to use their bikerather than their cars and thus avoid being stuck in the growingtraffic congestion that now sees both Old Island Highway andTrans Canada Highway traffic at a near standstill during morning and afternoon commutes
SAM MACEY is a GVCC Director anTheme Rides Committee leader
All photos by Sam Macey
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Cyclists and pedestrians crossing Admirals
Road at Colville will be a problem
2 Early work on the trail near Four Mile Hill
and Craigflower showing one of the drainage
problems
3 Rail Crossing control box by Hutchinson road
4 New drainage by trail
5 Removal of rock outcroppings
6 New paving new Hallowell The final result The
new trail has been built up and leveled proper
drainage lines were installed beneath the trail
surface
7 Mural on the navy drydock
8 New rock wall
Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 17983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313720 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
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passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 2
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LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2424
Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1624
W ork continues on constructing the EampN Rail Trail
along the EampN rail line from Victoria to LangfordThe trail is planned to eventually join with the future
Trans Canada Trail running north up Vancouver Island So faronly a few sections are officially open Given that trail construc-tion began in 2010 and is projected to take sev-eral more years to be fully completed now is agood time to consider the challenges in build-ing the Rail Trail
In January 2013 Scansa Construction wasawarded a $196 million contract by CRD for thesections between Colville and Admirals Roadand Maplebank Road (just east of the SongheesNation reserve) and between Hallowell Road
and Craigflower Road by the Four Mile Pub(just northwest of the Songhees reserve)Building the trail is much more than sim-
ply bulldozing trees and brush out of the wayand laying down a layer of asphalt Thereneeds to be a solid roadbed underneath the asphalt in order tohave a smooth level surface that is stable There also needs tobe a drainage system so that rain and surface water will not
wash out the trailIn some places there were large rock outcroppings
that needed to be removed by blasting Howeverthere are houses very close to ndash and in some
cases built on ndash these rock outcroppings so
the blasting had to be carefully controlled to prevent damage to
nearby buildings As well the trail needs to be relatively flatand this has meant bringing in crushed rock in some places tofill in the dips and gullies
In addition to constructing the trail Southern Vancouver Island Rail is installing signals at level rail crossings along the rail line including Intervale andHutchinson Roads in Esquimalt
These sections of the EampN Rail Trail on eitherside of the Songhees Nation reserve are expected tobe open this fall And while these may be helpful tosome bike commuters particularly those headingtoward CFB Esquimalt and the expanding Seaspanshipyards next door to CFB Esquimalt more work
remains to be doneThe short section between Wilson Street andEsquimalt Road in Vic West is still to be tackledalong with constructing a safe crossing for raitrail users at Esquimalt Road near Robert Street
Constructing the trail from the Old Island Highway to wesof Helmcken Road has not yet been scheduled Two bridges paralleling railway trestles (at the Old Island Highway
near the 4 Mile Pub and Helmcken Road in View Royal) wereconstructed to allow for the trail last year Construction of thelatter section of the rail trail would provide a level route towardthe West Shore Until this section of the trail is constructed cyclists wanting to use the new section of the trail that should open
EampN Rail ConstructionUpdate by Sam Macey
EampN Rail Trailsections shouldprovide manycommuters a
choice to use their
bikes rather thantheir cars
16 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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this summer will be faced with going up and over 4 Mile Hill
The Trail bypasses the Songhees Nation Reserve near Esqui-malt so cyclists will travel alongside Admirals Road betweenHallowell and Maplebank Roads to rejoin the Rail Trail This isa rather hilly detour from the level rail line
The Admirals RoadColville intersection was upgraded sev-eral years ago but little thought was given to adequately provid-ing for pedestrian and bike crossings
While lots of work remains to be done to fully complete theEampN Trail from east to west completion of these new sections
will be a change for the better Given all the residential develop
ment taking place on the Westshore these EampN Rail Trail sections should provide many commuters a choice to use their bikerather than their cars and thus avoid being stuck in the growingtraffic congestion that now sees both Old Island Highway andTrans Canada Highway traffic at a near standstill during morning and afternoon commutes
SAM MACEY is a GVCC Director anTheme Rides Committee leader
All photos by Sam Macey
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Cyclists and pedestrians crossing Admirals
Road at Colville will be a problem
2 Early work on the trail near Four Mile Hill
and Craigflower showing one of the drainage
problems
3 Rail Crossing control box by Hutchinson road
4 New drainage by trail
5 Removal of rock outcroppings
6 New paving new Hallowell The final result The
new trail has been built up and leveled proper
drainage lines were installed beneath the trail
surface
7 Mural on the navy drydock
8 New rock wall
Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 17983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2024
Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
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8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 2
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2224
LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2324
This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2424
Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1724
this summer will be faced with going up and over 4 Mile Hill
The Trail bypasses the Songhees Nation Reserve near Esqui-malt so cyclists will travel alongside Admirals Road betweenHallowell and Maplebank Roads to rejoin the Rail Trail This isa rather hilly detour from the level rail line
The Admirals RoadColville intersection was upgraded sev-eral years ago but little thought was given to adequately provid-ing for pedestrian and bike crossings
While lots of work remains to be done to fully complete theEampN Trail from east to west completion of these new sections
will be a change for the better Given all the residential develop
ment taking place on the Westshore these EampN Rail Trail sections should provide many commuters a choice to use their bikerather than their cars and thus avoid being stuck in the growingtraffic congestion that now sees both Old Island Highway andTrans Canada Highway traffic at a near standstill during morning and afternoon commutes
SAM MACEY is a GVCC Director anTheme Rides Committee leader
All photos by Sam Macey
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Cyclists and pedestrians crossing Admirals
Road at Colville will be a problem
2 Early work on the trail near Four Mile Hill
and Craigflower showing one of the drainage
problems
3 Rail Crossing control box by Hutchinson road
4 New drainage by trail
5 Removal of rock outcroppings
6 New paving new Hallowell The final result The
new trail has been built up and leveled proper
drainage lines were installed beneath the trail
surface
7 Mural on the navy drydock
8 New rock wall
Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 17983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
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This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 19983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2024
Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313720 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2124
passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 2
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2224
LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2324
This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2424
Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1824
This is the first book provided to Cycle Therapy by the authorUsually we purchase or borrow the book so we are verypleased to see that the literary impact of CT book reviews is
now recognized and we trust that the freebie will not in any waytaint our journalistic integrityThis is a self-published book offering 15 family trails where
most can also be used for jogging hiking anddog walking as well as cycling Two beginnermountain bike trails are also profiled in caseyou are interested
This is a guidebook with some very detailedand informative mapping on various trails andparks known to the cycling community in theCapital Region District although the two moun-tain bike trails are further afield The author(who is president of the South Island MountainBike Society) has obviously gone to a great dealof trouble to record and map everything he con-siders important for a quality park or trail visit
A narrative on each park or trail provides de-tailed information on access bathrooms watersources playgrounds busy streets dogs etc aswell a brief narrative on the history and suggest-ed loops which assumes that the bike visit startsand ends from the car park Such information isalmost overwhelming but if you want the exactlocation of park benches litter receptacles andparking ndash this is your book Any ground proof-ing I did indicated that the book was 100 accu-rate although the bane of any printed guidebook
is that things change and it becomes outdatedFrom the literary perspective each park or trail includes a
quarter or half page description that would allow you as holderof the guidebook to sound extremely knowledgeable about the
history of the park and what its name means in the First Nationslanguage
A guidebook is challenging to review because the question o
whether the publication does its job is based on the informationit contains as well as the intentions of the user Having alreadydiscussed the accuracy the needs of the user should be consid
ered and it can be a challenge for some mapchallenged people to understand any imageThe narrative description attached to each traihelps but the sheer amount of information oneach trail can be overwhelming
The primary criticism is the amount of advertising it contains While this presumablyoffset the production cost it raises the questionof whether this visitor targeted product shouldhave been paid for from tourism funds or mighhave been 100 advertising supported Sadlythe information is not free and whether thebreadth is worth the list cost is something theuser will have to decide The amount of detaiis amazing and represents a tool in decidingwhich trail to ride and where to stop for wateror rest as well as bathrooms or other facilitiesIt will be particularly useful for walkers andparents who need to know how many yards it ito the bathroom or water fountain
The list price is $1595 from the websitewwwfreakmapscom It may also be available acertain coffee shops and bookstores at higher olower prices As the book gains in sales and read
ers find it useful we hope to see it in the public library and onlinbookstores
MICHAEL FISHER is GVCC Treasurer
Cyclists Have Rights
Get Fair Results
Max Durando Injury Lawyer
CyclistCar Collisions
ICBC Injury ClaimsCar Accident Injuries
PedestrianCar CollisionsSlipTrip-and-Fall Injuries
AirBusRailMarine Injuries
Free Initial Consultation
Contingency Fees
based on results
Located at Shoal Point in James Bay
Free Bike and Car Parking
MDurandoPearlmanLindholmcom
250-388-4433
Family Trails ndash Detailed Guidebook
Daniel Cammiade
Freakmapscom 2012 - 100pp
15 Trails for family cycling in the CRD
18 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Sidney
2781 2nd St
p250‐656‐1512
rhsidneyrusshayscom
wwwrusshayscom
Victoria
650 Hillside Ave
p250‐384‐4722
inforusshayscom
Serving Victoriarsquos Cycling Community for 50 YEARS
Book Review mdash Family Trails by Daniel Cammiade
by Michael Fisher
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 19983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2024
Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313720 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2124
passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 2
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2224
LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2324
This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2424
Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 1924
Sarah Webb is the newly appointed Ac-tive Transportation Manager with theCapital Regional District The CRD re-
cently received nearly $800000 in GasTax Funding to implement the Pedes-trian and Cycling Master Plan (PCMP)Sarah has been with the CRD for 4 yearsas the Climate Action Program Manag-er and two weeks into her new job Sarahsat down on the green roof of the CRDbuilding to talk to CT
Tell me about your new role
This position is a unique combinationof implementation and planningPrimarily I will be working with
community partners to implement proj-ects under Pedestrian and Cycling Mas-ter Plan On the planning side I will becontributing to the Regional Transpor-tation Plan the Southern Gulf IslandsPedestrian and Cycling Trails Plan andthe Regional Sustainability StrategyThe PCMP is a critical part of shapinghow we get around tomorrow and 25years from now
Why were you interestedin the position
Nearly 60 of greenhouse gas
emissions in the region are fromour choices in transportation
There is significant need and opportuni-ty to address climate change through in-vestments in active transportation infra-structure behaviour change programsand policies Transportation plays acritical role in economic developmentcommunity health and social well-beingI wanted to be a part of the solution tomake it easier for residents businessesand visitors to get around
What are you most excited about
Iam most excited about finding oppor-tunities projects and partnerships toleverage across the region Our munic-
ipal partners small business institutionslike hospitals and colleges and non-prof-it organizations are critical to the PC-MPrsquos success This position will focus onnurturing cycling and walking culture inthe region We have a strong foundationnow we have to make new investments tocreate a comprehensive cycling networkthat is safe and comfortable for all riders
What is involved in implementingthe PCMP
Implementation involves on-the-ground
infrastructure and community capacitybuilding We will be providing funding
grants to municipalities for innovativeengineering solutions like cyclist footrests at intersections to add to the exist-ing bikeway network The softer side butequally as important requires focusingon initiatives like cycling skills coursescycling tourism special events and datacollection
This two year project is all aboutbeing strategic -- leveraging in-kindand financial contributions and work-
ing across the region with our partnersPartnerships and collaboration are fun-damental in in taking the PCMP from apaper document to reality
How do you plan on connecting withdifferent stakeholders (local govern- ments advocacy businesses)
In addition to formal avenues we willbe creating a Practitionerrsquos NetworkThis will be an open network of pro-
fessionals citizens and stakeholders thatfocus on active transportation issues
This network will provide a platform foreducation knowledge sharing partner-ship development and project incubationWe will also be developing a quarterly
e-newsletter for residents local govern-ments and businesses with updates onprojects new opportunities and successstories
What is your favourite thing aboutbiking
The physical experience - the smellsthe sounds feeling the breeze andsweating a little to wake me up on
the way to work Through biking I getto know the community more intimately
Where do you like to bike
Everywhere I have four bikes a tran-sit pass and no driverrsquos licence Ithink that there are few places I ha-
venrsquot been in region on foot or on wheels
KATE BERNIAZ is a citizen cyclistwho appreciates local government
Photo copyTimes Colonist
by Kate BerniazNew CRD Active Transportation Manager
Interview mdash Sarah Webb
Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 19983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2024
Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313720 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2124
passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 2
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2224
LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2324
This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2424
Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2024
Passion for Design A New Bike Business Opens in Fernwood
V
ictoria Velotechis the newest cy-
cle store in Vic-toria located in quaintbicycle friendly Fern-wood across the roadfrom the FernwoodInn I recently metup with ChristopherWard proud ownerof this business to
hear about how the soft opening went on July 2ndWard is a trained commercial pilot who was forced to stop
flying after chemotherapy treatment impacted his breathingThe next best thing to flying is cycling and he found a placeto exercise his passion in this sophisticated Italian-themed busi-ness I had expected to find a retired racer or grease monkeyeager to fix all comers Instead I found a thoughtful introspec-tive individual who invoked Zen while discussing his passion forwheel building and bicycle tuning He spoke thoughtfully aboutlofty aspirations and how the mind needs something to chew onFrom this it was a short step to talking about giving back andhelping cyclists and the community more generally A couplevisited while we spoke and Ward did not rush to sell them whatthey donrsquot need but was quietly comfortable with letting thembecome comfortable with the store
This bike store is targeted at the high-end user who knowswhat they want I am not sophisticated in these matters but the
Victoria Velotechon Fernwood Ave
Wide or NarrowThe physics of going faster may surprise you
The pneumatic bicycle tire was invented in the 1800s yetthere can still be much confusion about what makes a goodtire Luckily any bicycle tire available nowadays will do its
job but what should you look for in a tireCompetitive cycling has long been the testing ground for new
technologies as well as stylistic and mechanical considerations
for bicycling in general The philosophy behind tires has been touse super skinny tires for greater aerodynamic advantage and topump them up to extremely high pressures to decrease rollingresistance
Skinnier tires can lead to aerodynamic gain but aerodynam-ics is a very complex area and depends on much more than tiresalone Furthermore by pumping up tires too much road shockswill be transmitted to the bike frame and cyclist rather thanabsorbed by the suspension provided by the tire decreasing ef-ficiency The contact patch of the tire on the ground will alsodecrease with inflation resulting in decreased cornering grip
The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is not
98314398315898313998313998313898313998313998313720 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2124
passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 2
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2224
LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2324
This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2424
Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2124
passion and gleam in Wardrsquos eye when he discussed carbon fibrebikes and the technology attached to them was truly palpable Heclearly knows his stuff and proudly showed me new wheel-truingequipment he had purchased He also showed off a boxed Cam-pagnalo Pro Shop set ndash another beautiful piece of Italian tech-nology and he literally caressed the 10 speed cassette as we dis-cussed chain technology Currently the business is a retailer forItalian Wilier bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed gently lifting theirlovely Italian weightlessness He is actively pursuing other sup-pliers and expects to augment his stable in the near future Onthe walls were Italian-made clothing of various colours and Ital-ian cycling shoes hovered near the window The Italian themeis based on Wardrsquos appreciation for the flair for Italian design
Knowing his customers Ward offers a specialised service toservice and repair high-end bikes on the schedule of the owner ndash not shop hours So if you absolutely must have that bike readyfor 5 am on Monday ndash who are you going to call
Like its owner this business is quiet and introspective anddoes not have large display windows or flashy signage In factI missed the business the first time past and inquired at a localfood joint who was unaware of a new bicycle store in their midstHopefully those who really need Victoria Velotech will find theirway there
MICHAEL FISHER is a GVCC
director and avid cyclist
Victoria Velotech
2002 Fernwood RoadVictoria BC
250-920-5520wwwvictoriavelotechc
frictional force between the tire and the ground but the defor-mation of the tire casing due to applied loads A wider high-er-volume tire will actually deform less at the same pressurethan a skinnier one and will be more efficient Many tire man-ufacturers recommend a ldquotire droprdquo ndash net decrease in distancebetween the rim and outer edge of the tire ndash of 15 when the bikeis loaded as reported by Frank Berto in Bicycling Independentlabs such as Wheel Energy as well as the writers and publishersof Bicycle Quarterly have done extensive research into the subjectand their findings all agree that wider tires at lower pressuresare more efficient and provide many other benefits
A wider more supple tire at a lower pressure will not only
make you a more efficient rider but willget fewer flats as lower pressures mean less forcecan be concentrated in one area Also more material meansthey will wear slower and rough and uneven surfaces will beless challenging and more comfortable to ride over Comparedwith the miniscule increase in aerodynamic drag the benefitsare overwhelming
OLIVER TERRY is a bicycle mechanic atGoldstream Bikes and rides 700x28C tires
Wardrsquospassion forItalian designextends tocoffee as wellPhoto by MFisher
Bikes hang in the windows of the store as owner Christopher Wardshows off his airy new retail and work space Photos by F Perryman
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 2
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2224
LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2324
This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2424
Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2224
LETrsquoS START WITH A RIDDLE
It is one of the very first and very lastmovements you make in your life
It affects and is affected by everything youdo in every situation every day
You likely rarely give it any thought but
if it were to become compromised it would bethe only thing you would think about
To what am I referring Breathing ofcourse
In the previous four articles I outlinedsome self-massage techniques and stretchesfor parts of the body that are prone to stiff-ness andor tightness in cyclists Why is itthat these areas tend to become tight andorstiff in the first place Well Irsquove argued thatpoor postural habits are a likely contributorBut herersquos something you may not have con-sidered your poor posture might have some-thing to do with how you BREATHE And ifyou continue to breathe poorly all the stretch-
ing and self-massage work in the world maybe to no availhellip Interested Read onhellip
What do I mean by breathing poorly Wella little anatomy is in order here To get airinto and out of the lungs we need to use cer-tain muscles to changethe shape of our chestcavity (thorax) Duringrelaxed breathing themuscle that should dothe majority of the workis a dome-shaped muscleat the base of the rib cagecalled the diaphragmDuring times of stress
or exercise when the demand on breathing ishigher it is perfectly natural for a number ofother ldquoaccessoryrdquo muscles to get in on the ac-tion particularly those in the upper chest andthe neck Problems arise when these smalleraccessory muscles start to take over (partic-ularly at rest) the diaphragmrsquos role We endup becoming chronic ldquochest breathersrdquo Theproblem with this style of breathing is that (a)it is less efficient and (b) these smaller mus-cles get easily overworked and tight The re-sult is often chronic neck jaw andor upper
body tension and a nagging feeling of con-stant unease or stress People in this state of-ten sigh constantly and report that they reallyhavenrsquot felt as though they have taken a fulldeep nourishing breath all day Well thatrsquos be-cause they havenrsquot
A further potential downside of this chron-ically poor chest breath-ing pattern is a gradualchange in posture Therib cage becomes flaredthe head shifts forwardsthe upper back roundsand the lower back be-comes more curved (ex-tended) than ideal BingoYou are now more proneto neck back and shoul-der pain
The good news is thatyou can turn this ship
around with some work on your breathingThis really should be done at least every dayand can be combined with some of the stretchesand self-care work I have detailed in previousarticles You will be amazed if you spend some
time work-ing on goodb r e a t h i n gpatterns howmuch betteryou will feelThis isnrsquot voo-doo ndash yogishave knownabout this for
eons and research shows that it works too Ihave two simple breathing drills for you
Drill 1CROCODILE BREATHING
Best done at home or your co-workers willthink you are snoozing on the job Lie facedown with your forehead placed on yourforearms Relax slow down your breathingand breathe through the nose only Focus on
breathing right down into your groin Youshould feel your belly push down into theground as you inhale and your lower back willtherefore rise and fall with each breath Ideal-ly there should be minimal to no upper chestmovement and you should also feel your low-
er ribs and abdomen expand out to the sidesas well as down into theground (hence the nameof the drill) I would trythis for a minimum of 10long slow breaths at atime
Drill 2SEATEDSTANDING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
Once you understandhow belly breathing feels from the crocodiledrill you can start to work on this in seatedstanding positions Wrap your hands gentlyaround the sides of the waist just above yourhip bones as shown Relax slow down yourbreathing and breathe through the nose onlyYou should feel your lower abdomen expandin all directions into your fingers (front backand sides) Upper chest movement should beminimal The next time you are stuck in along slow queue and you feel your stress lev-els rising try this dri ll The simple act of re-focusing your attention on better breathingcan be remarkably therapeutic
Think of these drills as essential regularself-maintenance If people were more atten-
tive to their breathing there would be a lotless stress and tension in this world ndash I amconvinced Your mind and your body willthank you for it
TONY WEBSTER is an avid and yearround bike commuter He is also a faculty
member in the Centre for Sport andExercise Education at Camosun Collegehoused in the Pacific Institute for Sport
Excellence You can reach him at webstertcamosunbcca or at 250-220-2558
Postural improvement tips for cyclists ndash part 5
Better breathing
Crocodile Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Tony Webster
Seen Around Town
22 F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 Cycle Therapy 983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137
Design House Salon in theHudson on Douglas St has anew company bike with fattires and electric assist
Resourcefulness in action Tour de Disaster rider Sarahfashioned a rear view mirrow for her helmet out of abottle cap Also along for the Tour a mascot monkey
Victoria hosted the World Accordion
championships is August Participants
Xosia Gilbert (r) and friend show offtheir accordions and flower-filled bike
Victoriarsquos Wannawafelrsquoscompany bike in theirdistinctive yellow glows in thsun in Market Square in July
Photos by Felicity Perryman
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2324
This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2424
Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2324
This fall the Greater Victoria Cy-cling Coalition will launch a newBicycles Mean Business initiative topromote bicycle use and infrastruc-ture in the city of Victoria Thisprogram will specifically work toengage and enlist support for bet-
ter cycling facilities fromthe business community inVictoria business ownersand managers retail oper-ators property managersemployers business associ-ations and more
The GVCC recently re-ceived a substantial grantfrom the City of Victoria forthis project We believe Vic-toria businesses ndash locallyowned and otherwise ndash canbenefit directly from morepeople cycling in Victoria
Investments in walking andcycling bring renewed vitality andvibrancy to commercial districtsCities and communities that supportand invest in active transportationattract both jobs and talent
Currently there is a lack of ac-curate detailed information about
prevailing transportation habits andoptions in Victoriarsquos downtown andother commercial areas To addressthat we are planning to conduct asurvey of downtown retailersbusi-nesses to assess the travel choices ofemployees and customers
Subsequently we hopeto develop web-based re-sources and research forlocal-area businesses toencourage cycling andactive transportationand also other initiativessuch as lsquobicycle-friendlyrsquoawards and sponsorshipfor supportive businessesand organizations
The GVCC welcomesinquiries from membersand individuals inter-ested in this project We
will be looking to recruitvolunteers for support and interestfrom local businesses and their em-ployees to assist our efforts
Please contactRAY STRAATSMA GVCC Director
infogvccbcca
CYCLING FOODIES REJOICE AS FEAST VISITS METCHOSIN
Just in case you needed another reason to hopon the Goose and go for a lovely ride out toMetchosin this year you have one FarmFolk
CityFolkrsquos annual fundraiser Feast of Fields isbeing hosted by Fiona Chambers of MetchosinFarm on Sunday Sept 22nd Feast of Fields high-lights the farmer-chef connection to bring youmouth-watering bites of deliciousness pairedwith regional wines ciders ales and meads tobring out the flavors of good food Think lsquofour-hour outdoor gourmet-grazing picnicrsquo and youwill be somewhere in the middle of experiencingFeast of Fields
With the Galloping Goose Trail being so closeto this yearrsquos event cycling is the perfect way toburn up those extra calories get home safe andhave more fun Enjoy the agricultural backdrop
of hobby farms and pastures as you ride throughthe Metchosin sections of the goose until youget to km-25 at Rocky Point Road At this point
you will need to veer off the trail by taking aleft onto Rocky Point Road a right onto HappyValley Road left on Metchosin Road and a r ightonto Whitty Beach Road From trail to event isabout 15 km of country road through the heartof Metchosinrsquos lsquodowntownrsquo vil lage
The event is from 1-5 pm and tickets can be pur-chased online at wwwfarmfolkcityfolkca or inperson at Cook Culture 1317 Blanshard StreetVictoria
by JENNIFER FREEMANVancouver Island Events Coordinator
FarmFolk CityFolk
Bikes Mean BusinessVICTORIArsquoS SECRETSTOURSunday Sept 8 2013 1000am
Centennial Square Fountain
SPOOKS lsquoN SPOKES
RIDESaturday Oct 26 2013 630 pm
Centennial Square Fountain
16TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS LIGHTSRIDESaturday Dec 14 2013 6pm
Esquimalt Recreation Centre
GVCC RECREATIONALRIDESMost weekends
GVCC ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGWednesday Oct16 2013 7pm
Selkirk Montessori School
2970 Jutland Rd Victoria
Upcoming EventsGVCC BOARDMEETINGS2nd Wed of each month 7pm
FEAST OF FIELDSSunday Sept 22 2013 1-5pm
Metchosin Farm 542 Wootton Rd
Farm Folk City Folk
Farmfolkcityfolkca
TWEED RIDESaturday Sept 28 2013
tweedridevictoriaca
OAK BAYCOMMUNITY BIKEFESTIVALSunday Sept 29 2013
Willows Beach Park
oakbayca
SOOKE SLOWFOOD TOURsookeslowfoodcyclecom
More info on all GVCC events GVCCBCCA
983143983158983139983139983138983139983139983137 Cycle Therapy F983137983148983148 983090983088983089983091 23
CC riders on thehitectural Ride
y 2013 Photoerryman
Downtown Victoria withCity Hall and Douglas St
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2424
Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic
8132019 A Salt Spring Gander
httpslidepdfcomreaderfulla-salt-spring-gander 2424
Rent a GVCCBike LockerExtend your ride with one of our bike lockers Rideto an exchange lock up your bike and bus theremaining distance to your destination or leave abike in your locker and bus to it from home Forjust $1000 a month you can extend your greencommute and avoid those ugly car crawls
More info contact infogvccbccal t 250 382 8619
Help us advocate mdash Join the GVCC
Want better bike lanes Want our region to benetfrom cycle tourism Want more sustainable trans-port Your membership directly supports GVCCadvocacy efforts for cycling in our community
Become a member today at gvccbccamembership20$yr adult $10yr student senior or low income$35 household corporate $80yr sponsor $100yrlifetime $300
Cycle Therapy is available in these locationsMunrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Corners in JameBay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd Fairfield Market - Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - Government St Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad Street Coastal Cycland Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort Street Cycle - neaFort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt ampAdmirals Munrorsquos Books - Government St Bolen Books - Hillside SubText - UVIC Open Space - LoFo James Bay Coffee amp Books - 5 Cornerin James Bay Solstice Cafe - Pandora Bean Around The World - Fisgard Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd FairfieldMarket - 5 Corners in Fairfield McCrearsquos Restaurant - Shelbourne YMYW - Downtown Spiral Cafe - Vic West Seed of Life - GovernmenSt Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora Bicycleitis - Bay Street Brentwood Cycle amp Sports - Brentwood Bay Capital City Cycles - Broad StreetCoastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield Fort StreeCycle - near Fort and Cook Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford Macrsquos Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Martyrsquos Mountain Cycl- Esquimalt amp Admirals Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra amp North Park Oak Bay Bicycles - OaBay amp Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd Happy Valley Rd Performance Bicycles - Quadra Reynolds PM Bike- Goldstream amp Peatt Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose Russ Hayrsquos The Bicycle Shop - Douglas amp Hillside Russ Hayrsquo
The Bicycle Shop - Bevan amp Second in Sidney Selkirk Station Bicycle amp Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sookamp Otter Pt Sports Traders - Irontown Straight Up Cycles - Quadra amp Tolmie Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnakerrsquos GVPL - all branches SidnePublic Library Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas amp Bay Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanic